From 1939 to 1945, World War II made the headlines of newspapers and magazines across the world. It all started when Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany led the Slovak Republic and the Soviet Union to invade Poland on September 1, 1939. “One of the aims of the invasion was to divide Polish territory at the end of the operation; Poland was to cease to exist as a country and all Poles (“inferior people”) were to be exterminated.”1
Hitler’s attempts for conquest, though, began earlier in the year. In March 1938, Hitler annexed Austria into their realm. This is portrayed in The Sound of Music. Hitler wasn’t finished. He wanted Czechoslovakia, especially a region populated with ethnic Germans, to be incorporated into the Third Reich.
On this day in 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt sent a letter to Hitler, asking him to reconsider invading. The letters appealed to Hitler’s ego, saying “should you agree to a solution in this peaceful manner I am convinced that hundreds of millions throughout the world would recognize your action as an outstanding historic service to all humanity.” FDR then assured Hitler that the U.S. would remain neutral regarding European politics, but that America recognized a responsibility to be involved “as part of a world of neighbors.”2
Through some diplomatic wranglings and capitulation by the Czechoslovakian government, Hitler got some of the territory he wanted. But that wasn’t enough. In March 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, taking the rest of the nation.
Personally, I believe that Hitler was Satanically possessed and driven. No man could have such a hatred for Jewish people or consider other humans “inferior” without having some sort of deep connection with the Devil. While FDR’s diplomatic attempts at securing peace between Hitler and Czechoslovakia were noble, you cannot rationally or logically achieve peace with the Devil.
Yet, this is exactly what a lost world is attempting to do every day.
Peace does not come by dumping money on the situation. Peace doesn’t come by legislating and legalizing the lust of the flesh. Peace doesn’t come by treaties. Peace doesn’t come by diplomatic negotiations. Peace comes by radically defeating the enemy.
Colossians 1:19-22 says, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh
through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” And consider the words of Ephesians 2:14-16. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
Notice the words I’ve put in bold text. Every unsaved, unredeemed individual is considered an enemy to God and the things of God. There was nothing we could do to go from being an enemy to having peace. It took something radical. Jesus had to DIE. It required the BLOOD OF THE CROSS. Death is a pretty radical solution, wouldn’t you say? This one act of sacrifice abolished the enmity.
Though “peace” may be achieved in man’s world, it is only temporary. Deep down, it’s not really peace. Those who compromise instead of pushing for their own agenda are only taking a step back to think and determine how they can ultimately get what they want. Before long, their aggressive fleshly desires resurface.
Hitler needed Jesus. The governments of the world need Jesus. EVERYONE needs Jesus. Without Him, there is no peace. This message should ring from our lips as we take the truth of the Gospel to the “uttermost parts of the earth.”
Remember the admonition of Ephesians 6:15 as you head out for the day. Have “your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-roosevelt-appeals-to-hitler-for-peace
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