An Old Soldier's Christmas Message

A SOLDIER'S SERMON ON CHRISTMAS DAY... (deck of cards)

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

There has been a story passed down through the years of soldiers on an active battle field. Many

tanks had been destroyed. The artillery and bombs had killed many. The bullets were flying and terror

was growing among the younger soldiers.

It was Christmas Eve and the troops on both sides CALLED FOR A TRUCE... There was an

older soldier that had a unique peace about him. He had been in many heated battles in his time.

The younger men soldier were just boys. They found comfort being around this older, senior officer.

In the quietness of the still battle field, the old man began singing and the young boys joined the

song: SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT, ROUND YOU VIRIGIN, MOTHER

AND CHILD, HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD. SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE. SLEEP IN

HEAVEN PEACE.

The were no Bibles to read the Christmas lesson from LUKE 2. The men recalled of the shepherds

and the wise men and how Mary pondered all these things in their heart. The men discussed home.

Several had never been away from home on Christmas.

The soldiers gathered around THE OLD SOLDIER AS HE PULLED A DECK OF CARDS OF HIS

POCKET. The was a great peace that came over the men. The older soldier gathered the men around

him and started telling his men THE GREAT MESSAGE OF THE MESSIAH HIDDEN IN A DECK OF

CARDS.

I few sort of laugh at him as he began the LESSON FROM A DECK OF CARDS.

1. WITH A SMILE ON HIS LIPS, THE MAN TURNED OVER THE FIRST CARD:

IT WAS AN ACE...

He asked the value of this card. The answer was ONE.

NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT...One of a kind or incomparable.

One can be referred to as someone's only child, or a special child.

He told them the story that Abraham had one son by the free woman, Sarah.

ONE AS IN GOD'S PROMISE AND BLESSING ABRAHAM WITH ONE SON BY SARAH.

Abraham was 100, Sarah was 90... The promise seemed IMPOSSIBLE. but one day

the family gathered around and watched Abraham hold his ONE AND ONLY SON... ISAAC

Then he asked all the men to quote with him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ONE GOD --- AND HE HAD ONE SON... JESUS.

THAT THE ONE CROSS IN THE MIDDLE BROUGHT HOPE TO THE HOPELESS.

Then he told them that God would adopt them and they could become one with Jesus.

ONE: THERE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION...grace where by one is redeemed and becomes the partaker

of the blessings.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may

know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

2. BY THEN HE HAD THEIR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION SO HE TURNED OVER THE NEXT CARD

TO REVEAL THE DEUCE ... #2...

Two men working together can accomplish more than they can as an individual.

He explained that there were TWO THIEVES on the other crosses that day. That one rejected Christ and

died in sin. The other thieve said: LORD, REMEMBER ME and Jesus told him, today you will be with me.

He told the men THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE HOLY BIBLE.

There is the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW TESTAMENT...

God speaks to man through the word.

The word of God does the work of God.

3. THE NEXT CARD HE TURNED OVER WAS THE TREY, THE THREE.

As he continued he told of Solomon words: A THREE FOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN.

He taught them there are 3 essential elements in a spiritual life.

FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE...

And we are made up of SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY ---

And that the Godhead exist in 3 eternal parts: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE

HOLY SPIRIT.

4. THE NEXT CARD DISPLAYED WAS THE FOUR.

He told that Jesus had four major evangelist: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN.

The first four BOOKS OR GOSPELS of the New Testament are MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN.

The promise of our salvation is hidden in these books.

5. HE QUICKLY TURNED OVER THE FIFTH CARD TO REVEAL A FIVE.

The first five books of the Bible are called the PENTATUCH... God makes himself know to His people

in these 5 books.

There were 5 WISE and 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS --- The five foolish virgins were not ready and let

their oil run out. They were not ready and they were LEFT BEHIND.