“Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” Galatians 3:23
What a picture! Locked up! Prisoners! Helpless to escape unless delivered! One of the most heart wrenching stories to come out of World War II is the story of the collapse of the Allied forces in the Philippines to the onslaught of the Japanese in 1942. The Bataan Death March took the lives of 5,000-18,000 Filipino young men and about 500-600 American. The march was characterized by severe physical abuse, killings and torture. Prisoners were forced to sit in direct sunlight, without head coverings. If anyone asked for water they were shot dead. It was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime.
Many of the prisoners who survived the death march were packed into railroad cars and taken to various camps in the area. Camp Cabanatuan became the home to over 500 young Americans and other Allied POWs. They faced brutal conditions including disease, torture and malnourishment. In 1945, the American forces returned to the Philippines, but with the withdrawal of the Japanese troops came the fear that all the prisoners would be killed. Thousands had already died, slowly starved and tortured. All that were left were the sickest and weakest. They called themselves the “Ghosts of Bataan,” shuffling skeletons with little value to the enemy troops who surrounded the camp.
Colonel Henry Mucci was selected to lead a daring nighttime raid to free the prisoners. He told the 6th Ranger Battalion, “You’re going to bring out every last man, even if you have to carry them on your backs.” All had to be volunteers, and none could be atheists. 120 Rangers and 200 Filipino guerillas volunteered. Every last one had to meet with the Chaplains and pray on their knees. All went. “And one more thing: swear before God that you will give your life rather than let any harm come to these prisoners.” All vowed.
They made it to the camp, seven miles inside Japanese lines. An American plane buzzed over the camp to detract the guards, pretending to be crippled and preparing to crash. The pilot repeated this several times while the Rangers cut the camps’ telephone lines. After the camp was taken and the enemy subdued, the Rangers and guerillas yelled to the POWs to come out and be rescued. Many of the men feared it was a trick and hid in their shacks and latrines!
An amazing thing! The prisoners hid from them! Some ran in circles, some huddled in corners and behind bamboo posts. They didn’t believe they were Americans! Finally, Col. Mucci said, “You have to trust us! You are a soldier again!” Finally, they started to trust! Some rescuers carried two men on their backs, some rode in ox carts, some could barely walk, but ALL 500 were saved!
Dear friend, if you are reading this and don’t know Jesus Christ, you too are a prisoner. You are a prisoner to your sin. The law of God condemns you…your thoughts condemn you…your words…your actions. If you are honest, you know you are helpless and guilty. Jesus is here to rescue you! Don’t try to hide or run! Today is the day of salvation. Jesus has done it all, He walked the walk of death for you! He will carry you home in His arms. You need to trust Him! “But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” Galatians 3:22. And “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,” 1 Timothy 1:15. And again, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:17.
Trust in Him today and find true freedom in Christ!
Your friend, Jean