Gene DeBruin: American Hero
When I lived in Ohio, I learned the story of Gene DeBruin from his brother, Jerry, and my friend, Jerry’s wife, Nancy. Gene was a POW in Laos during the Viet Nam War, who heroically accompanied his Hong Kong Chinese cell-mate during an escape attempt because his cell-mate was too weak to escape by himself. This selfless decision would guarantee that Gene never made it home.
How many of us have POWs in our lives? Our POWs may not live in bamboo cages, but they are just as much prisoners as Gene DeBruin. Our POW might be a wayward child, spouse, or even parent. It might be a lost friend or family member. It might be someone in the claws of addiction. It might be someone who’s turned from God due to disappointment or hypocrisy in the church.
But God says, “Even if a giant grips the plunder
and a tyrant holds my people prisoner,
I’m the one who’s on your side,
defending your cause, rescuing your children. Isaiah 47:24,25
“Defending” means to to strive and both physically and with words. We know that God is all-powerful and that He created the world with His words.
“Rescuing” means to save, deliver, to save from moral troubles, and to give victory to. God gives victory!
The strength of the enemy does not matter. We only need to know that God is stronger.
Such a good word…and so encouraging. When words to the hearer seem to fall to the ground, when all human attempts seem to be ineffective, we have “weapons that are not carnal.” Through Christ, we can “stand in” through prayer and implement “weapons that are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds.” And at that time we have the honor of laying down our lives just as this courageous man did.
It is an honor to lay down our lives, isn’t it? I’ve spent a lot of time flat on the ground interceding for a POW in my life. I know that it is all I can do . . . I also know it is the most I can do.