A broken arrow seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Sounds like a problem in an archery club. But it’s actually the US military’s code word for accidents involving nuclear bombs; and we’ve had dozens. In the incident I’m going to tell you about, only ONE small switch saved millions from instant incineration.
I want to get right to telling you about that incident, but first let me welcome you to “Mornings with Bishop Robert” — the top spot on the Internet for Beverages with a Bishop and a daily word of timely faith. My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time together today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend! Join our email list to get a free copy of my book COUNT TO ONE, get Mornings with Bishop Robert sent directly to your inbox each morning, and lots of other great benefits. Click the link in the description.
Lots of things have gone wrong when the US Secretary of Defense has to publicly admit – and I quote – “It was only by the slightest margin of chance, literally the failure of two wires to cross, a nuclear explosion was averted.” On Jan 23, 1961, just three days after John. F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural speech as the 35th President of the United States, a B-52 Stratofortress broke apart in mid-air over Goldsboro North Carolina. The two Mark 39 nuclear bombs onboard plummeted to earth, each one packing more than 250 times the destructive power of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As it descended one of the bombs went through three of its four triggering steps, and only one small switch stopped it from changing American history in the most catastrophic way one could imagine. The same switch on the second bomb somehow flipped itself to the “ARM” position, and no one but God knows why it did not detonate. If it had, everyone and everything within a 17-to-20 mile radius would have been killed instantly, and lethal nuclear fallout would have blanketed cities as far north as New York City.
Speaking about Jesus, today’s verse tells us IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL HOPE.
His Name. It’s been called the Name Above All Names. By virtue of His being raised from the dead and seated in glory, He is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and His name is above every other name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Jesus has been exalted to the highest place, and the day is coming when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL HOPE. Today is Election Day in the United States, and people are going to the polls to select a name from among a list of other names in hope that their candidate will be elected. There are liberals and conservatives on the ballot. There are honest people and scoundrels vying for power and control. Warnings of ballot tampering, vote-fixing and all sorts of illegal activity have littered news stories for weeks. I have my own preferences, and I have voted for everything from the person who will be responsible for mosquito control (yes, we actually VOTE for that here!!!) to the Chief Executive of our state and several federal offices. And though I hope all of the people I voted for will be elected, I am NOT placing my hope in them.
It is true that righteousness exalts a nation, and God-fearing elected leaders who rule justly are to be desired. We need men and women of wisdom and understanding to lead us, because sin is a reproach to any people. But our hope is not in the people who will be elected to rule our nation. The answers we seek will never be found in our elected leaders, whatever their party affiliation may be.
IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL HOPE.
If you’re a legal citizen of the United States, I hope that you’ll vote today and do your part to elect godly leaders in every post. If you’re a citizen of another nation, I hope you’ll pray for us as we cast our ballots. From Brazil to Kenya and Benin to Kosovo political unrest surrounding elections rages. Threats of civil war in places with all-too-familiar names abound. But the hope of these nations, theirs and ours, is not going to be found in a palace or parliament building. No, the safety switch on this planet won’t be found in a ballot box. JESUS is the hope of the nations.
IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL HOPE.
