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Themes "Christ the Savior, Christ the Judge The Unlikely Savior Her life spanned only nineteen years, but the name Jeanne d'Arc was well known to both the French and English in the early 1400's. She was born in Domremy, France in 1412, and like most girls of her time, never learned to read or write. Her devout mother brought her up to be kind, gentle and God fearing. Visions which she felt sure were from heaven made her believe that she was chosen to liberate her oppressed country from the English. At the age of seventeen, she left her home to fulfill that task. The young girl made her way to King Charles VII. Charles was a good man but had no stomach for war. He had never been crowned because he could not reach Reims for his coronation. The English had won every battle in their effort to capture the French throne. When she reached King Charles and told him of her mission, he was skeptical at best. What could a young woman do? But when she told him exactly what he had asked of God when he had prayed alone and told him other things not previously known, he believed she was sent by God. She then received a sword, a banner, and command over the King's troops. At first, the French commanders did not want to obey her. But soon they saw that all went well when they followed her, and that nothing succeeded when they disregarded her orders. She led the French soldiers into battle five times. Her greatest victory came when she and her men liberated the besieged city of Orleans. Twice she was wounded, but each time she recovered and went on fighting. Her strategy for battles were said to be those of a military genius. She drove the English from the city of Reims, and secured the city until Charles came and was crowned King of France. Her mission ended when Charles was crowned King. She wanted to return to her home at Domremy, but Charles persuaded her to lead an attack on Paris, which was still in the hands of the English. The attack failed and she was badly wounded and captured. Imprisoned for one year and then executed, Jeanne d'Arc died at the age of 19. To this day she is a legend to her countrymen. The French have set aside May 30th, the day of her death, as a memorial to a young girl that we know as Joan of Arc. A Savior was provided for the king and his people. They never expected the one they got. They had tried their own genius, weapons and strategies of war. Yet all had failed. When they followed Jeanne d'Arc, they were delivered. God has provided a Savior for mankind. "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World" 1John 4:14. Men try ever other means of saving themselves: religion, good works, charity and other ways. Yet God's way of Salvation is through His Son. There is no other way, Acts 4:12.
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Glen Moore
