This past Tuesday, January 27, 2015, marked 70 years since Auschwitz was liberated. What happened there are unimaginable evils and proves that the human race has great power which they can use to inflict the most grotesque treatment on each other. The survivors of this horrific event in our history always amaze me – how they have overcame and kept on going.
I was watching one of the many special reports that were on TV this week and they had one very interesting man – Michael Greenfield. He is so inspiring in how he lives his life after Auschwitz. This is a man who has dressed every President of the United States since Eisenhower. His demeanor is so full of joy I am sure if you met him you would not be able to tell that he is a survivor of one of the worst genocide the modern world has seen. There was one thing that Mr. Greenfield said that struck me – the last thing his father said to him as they parted ways when leaving the train cars was “If we don’t survive this (meaning his parents, aunts, uncles, etc), survive and live in honor of us.” So he did…
What would have happened if Mr. Greenfield decided to just wallow in his horror and not move on? Would he have achieved all that he did? No, he wouldn’t. In fact, Mr. Greenfield used this tragedy to propel him into the rest of his life.
We all have had horrible things happen to us; it may not be at the level of Auschwitz, but horrible nonetheless. How many times do we get stuck in wallowing and not overcoming? Probably too many. It is much easier to just allow things happen and react to it. But that is not how we are to handle this life.
Bad things are going to happen – that is what occurs when sin enters the world. But there is way more good than there is evil. Think about this: Auschwitz is no longer an active concentration camp, but a remembrance of how good wins out over evil every time. If you go to Poland, you can stand in the middle of the camp and witness that fact first hand. That is on my bucket list for sure, by the way.
When we face evil in our own life, remember that good will always win. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Take courage in that promise and just keep on going. Believe me, the momentary pain will be nothing compared to what happens after you overcome.
I am going to leave you with this scripture. Be blessed, everyone!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (Hebrews 12:1-4)
Boldly Radiant 