Robert Clements
And as I hear about our brave soldiers fighting for the country in the cold heights against a brutal Chinese army, I am reminded of a young Indian army officer serving in the dangerous Jammu and Kashmir region who received information that terrorists were firing indiscriminately onto the public at the Jammu Railway Station.
Reaching the spot in a few minutes Lt. Triveni Singh and his group of commandos started attacking the militants in the station. He cordoned off the station and employed a zigzag strategy to come close to the hardcore terrorists. Risking his life the young lieutenant faced indiscriminate fire and also the fury of grenades that were lobbed at him. But with courage born of a passion for duty and country, he managed to get within firing range and killed one of the terrorists.
The second militant dressed in combat clothes, however, while trying to escape threw a grenade at Singh and seriously injured him. This did not prevent Singh from standing up and killing him just as his commanding officer with reinforcements rushed to his help. “Mission Accomplished sir,” said Singh as he saluted his officer and collapsed, dead.
I wonder what our cry will be when we finally meet our Commanding Officer? Will it be ‘Mission Accomplished’ or will it be shouts of ‘God give me some more time!’ or ‘Lord I’m sorry, I couldn’t finish the work I was supposed to do on your earth!’
It might not be heroic work like the young Lieutenant was given. But God’s heroes do the most simple, most mundane, ordinary jobs.
In the mid 70’s Ed Roberts created the world’s first commercially successful personal computer, and guess who worked for him? Young Bill Gates!
Robert’s sold his computer business and bought a farm. Seven years later at the age of 41 he entered medical college. Today Bill Gates is a billionaire whereas Ed Roberts is a physician in a small Georgia town. Says Roberts, “People think that the PC is the most important work I’ve done, but that isn’t true. Every day I deal with things that are equally if not more important here with my poor patients!”
His mission was not creating the PC, it was to serve the sick.
I can imagine the joy the young officer felt as he saluted his commanding officer and reported, “Mission Accomplished sir!”
Will that same joy be seen on your face as you finally greet your Lord and your Commander?
In his book, 'A Purpose Driven Life' by Rick Warren, we are told, that each of us has a purpose, a mission beyond ourselves for which we have been placed here on earth. Are you accomplishing that mission? Fulfilling that purpose?
I hope we will be able to leap out of our tired, worn out body at the end of our lives and shout, “Mission Accomplished Lord!”
