D.V.
War has always been a horrible thing and never truer than in World War II. It's estimated that world wide more than 40 million people lost their lives in those 7 years. But did you know that 120,000 people didn't have to die? They would have lived if their leaders had not been so proud-hearted! After Hitler's Germany was finally crushed in Europe, attention was focused on the Pacific War with Japan. Japan had become a power hungry nation grasping for more and more territory. Though most thought it was only a matter of time before its defeat, the Japanese leaders figured it differently. To the people of that nation one thing was worse than death, the humiliation of surrender!

But while the War struggled on, unknown to the Japanese a top secret weapon was being developed by the U.S. Finally in the summer of l945 it was ready. Its destructive capability was fearsome. It could cause such devastation, that even many of the scientists who invented it, on realizing how terrible a weapon it was, pled that it never be used!

Now U.S. president Truman was faced with a burdensome decision: to see perhaps 100,000 more U.S. soldiers die to end the war, or to hasten its end with this dreadful weapon. The choice was finally made to use the Atomic Bomb! But first, it was agreed, a warning would be issued.

On July 26, Japan was asked for the last time to "surrender unconditionally", with these new words added to the warning,"or face complete destruction". Their answer was "NO"! "We are still able to defeat any invasion!", the military generals were convinced. "Who are these Americans who think we are afraid of them!", the Emperor's advisors thought. The choice had been given them, and they made the wrong one.

History repeats itself in every sinners life. We are too proud to admit our need and the danger we face. Do you think pride helps us to get to heaven?

The first of 4 bomb targets was chosen, and on August 6 the bomber arrived at its destination; but clouds covered the city. The pilot's orders were to fly to the next visible target, the city of Hiroshima. On that morning, the first atomic bomb was dropped. In a matter of minutes 80,000 people died, 10,000 would never be found, and 20,000 were injured. It was unlike anything the world had ever seen - one bomb had reduced the whole city to heaps of rubble. Within 3 days a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The results were just as terrible. Realizing the unequaled power they now faced, Japan surrendered within 5 days!

Why had so many needlessly perished in these 2 cities? Well, Japan's national pride ran very high in that era, a pride which caused that government to feel it was invincible. This led the leaders to disregard the warning. There came a time though, when they had to give account to a power against which they were helpless. They could have learned a lesson from Nebuchadnezzar, a king mentioned in the Bible, but it's difficult to penetrate any hard heart of pride.

How's your heart before God? Have you ever agreed with Him about your sins? Have you accepted His free and single remedy for their forgiveness- the Lord Jesus? Receive the Savior as your own today; else one day you will also face a Holy God's power - against which you too will be found just as helpless !

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