From the Pulpit: God’s favorite
Brandon lost a national treasure this last spring when Wendell Hanson died at age 101. I met Wendell at Bethany Meadows in one of their dining rooms where he was telling a war story to a captivated crowd. He was the pilot of a B-25 bomber in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre in World War II and he was describing how his plane came in “shot up like Swiss cheese” on his last flight. Against all odds, he was able to land the plane with an almost empty fuel tank on a dangerous runway that was near a mountain, at night without sufficient landing lights, no less. He later told me that after praying, he felt God’s reassurance that there would be no loss of life. On that last fateful mission in which he had successfully bombed enemy airplanes on the ground, despite his plane being full of holes, no one lost so much as a fingernail. If you want to read his whole story, it can be found in the book, “WW II Diary” by David Hayward.
What really impressed me about Wendell when I was privileged to visit him was his strong faith in God. He once told me he had no fear while flying his missions because he believed what the Bible said about Jesus preparing a place for him in heaven. He said he prayed for wisdom and strength as a pilot, and he left the dying part up to God. What I loved most about Wendell was his constant upbeat attitude, based on his faith. I once told him that God had blessed him very much, with a wonderful wife, children, and life. With a twinkle in his eye, he said God blesses everyone, but he felt God almost “overdid it” with him. It is truly humbling to meet someone who feels they were blessed beyond measure.
Do you ever feel like Wendell, that God almost overdoes it with blessings when it comes to your life? If not, why not? I have often felt that I am blessed beyond measure to get to live in Brandon, one of the safest towns in America, full of friendly people, where I can safely take a walk any time day or night. I also thank God for our vigilant police force for keeping watch day and night. But if you think that Brandon is a typical town, you need to open your eyes of faith and see how God has protected us with His presence and angels who watch over us.
Have you ever seen the t-shirt that says, “Jesus loves you, but I’m His favorite”? It is meant to be humorous, of course, but that is the way every Christian feels. We can’t believe God forgives our sin and gives us so many undeserved favors. Favoritism is a sin condemned in James 1:1 and 9, so we shouldn’t show favoritism to any one person. God loves everyone equally, those who believe in Him and those who don’t, and he doesn’t want anyone to perish by refusing His grace. Jesus said God sends rain on the just and unjust, and Romans 2:11 says, “God does not show favoritism.” I am quite sure, however, that having an attitude like Wendell had that realized that God’s blessings are unbelievably generous makes God smile. So, say a prayer of thanks for heroes like Wendell, who was also a hero of the faith, for helping us realize we should all feel like God’s favorite child because He is so good to us.
