A Prisoner of War

Since yesterday was Memorial Day, it seems fitting today to remember the story of Howard Rutledge, POW in North Vietnam.  Rutledge died several years ago, but his book, In the Presence of Mine Enemies, 1965-1973---A Prisoner of War, remains as a testimony to the resilience and resourcefulness of the human spirit when sustained by the word of God.

I encountered his story in Robert Morgan’s book, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart.  Morgan writes that Howard was not particularly interested in spiritual things……..until he became a prisoner of war.  Then he became absolutely desperate to recall anything from his childhood relating to the Bible or church.  With the help of other American POW’s at the Hanoi Hilton, he reconstructed every Bible verse that he possibly could from the eighteen years he had spent attending Sunday School.  It was amazing that, as time went on, he could access more and more of the verses that had been deeply buried in the furthest recesses of his mind. 

Rutledge declared that he remained sane solely because of these Bible verses.  According to Morgan, “The memorized snippets of Scripture in his brain were potent. They faced down death, rallied his spirits, steeled his nerves, and tapped in the deepest strength known in the universe. They beat back the torture, stifled the despair, subdued the terrors he felt, and maintained his sanity even when he was immobilized for days in a stifling hut, chained to a metal frame, lying in his own waste, and covered with ants, flies, and biting insects.”(p. 20)

Hebrews 4:12 declares that “…the word of God is living and effective and sharper that any two-edged sword…”  Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  “Is not my word like fire…and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” attests the Lord in Jeremiah 23:29.  In Isaiah 55:10-11, God’s word is compared to the rain and snow that water the earth, making it bud and yield seed. More precious than gold and sweeter than honey are the Lord’s ordinances, according to Psalm 9:9-10.  Jesus called the word more important than bread for mankind’s sustenance in Matthew 4:4.

 

In short, the word of God is living, effective, incredibly sharp, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey, and better than life-sustaining bread.  It’s a sword, a lamp, a light, a hammer, and life-giving precipitation as well as fire.

What God did in Howard Rutledge’s life through His word, He is willing to do for us too when we ourselves are prisoners of defeat, heartbreak, addiction, despair, destruction, and frustration, and confusion.  God uses His word to bring emotional, spiritual, and physical healing to us, if we are willing to bathe our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits in it.  

What life-giving verse are you memorizing today, my friends?