On May 10, 1940, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain lost the confidence of the House of Commons. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, was tapped by King George VI to become the next Prime Minister of England. Churchill couldn’t have assumed such a high position at any lower of a time for Britain. WWII is raging and historians call this “Britain’s Darkest Hour.”
In the morning hours of May 13th, Churchill met with his cabinet. Later in the day, he addressed the House of Commons. In that historic address, he told them that he was forming a new government comprised of the Conservatives and the Labor Party. Churchill said,
“I beg to move, that this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.”1
He concluded his address with these words: “We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival… At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, “come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”2
Churchill already had a successful military record. But one comment he made to both his cabinet and then to the House of Commons strikes me powerfully. He said, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”3
Parliament was told that “his new policy will consist of nothing less than “to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime.”4
In the first year of his administration, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, but Churchill promised his country and the world that the
British people would “never surrender.” They never did.5
Churchill was willing to give everything he had to defeat the enemy. He knew that if Nazi Germany won and Hitler became the world’s dictator, things would never be the same. The value of his nation and the cost of losing was too great. Complete personal sacrifice to ensure the safety of his beloved England was the least he could do.
Christian, we should easily see the parallel. Our enemy is the one who energized Hitler – Satan himself. We are reminded in Ephesians 6:12 that “… we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-18 tells us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
We know who the enemy is, we know how we must fight, but are we willing to say, “Lord, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. I have my life. It’s all Yours.”
Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Take note of the words in bold.
There is something far more important than defending America, England, or any other nation. We are called to take our stand for the Kingdom of God. Churchill had some motivational sayings. Our motivation comes from the Scriptures.
“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God… (7) By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left…” (2 Corinthians 6:4, 7)
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1https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/blood-toil-tears-sweat/
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
4https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-13/churchill-announces-i-have-nothing-to-offer-but-blood-toil-tears-and-sweat
5https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/May-10/churchill-becomes-prime-minister
