Letters From Grandpa #467

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 467

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will begin with the challenge “Guess Who?” He was born in difficult and turbulent times and grew up with an overwhelming passion to serve his country. As a young man he was a choirboy, idolized his local preacher, and dreamed of someday becoming a preacher himself. As a small boy he would stand on a kitchen chair and deliver long and passionate sermons.

The passing of his mother was one of the most dramatic events of his young life. She died on the 21st of December in the light of their Christmas tree. Her attending physician said that in all his career he had never seen anyone so touched with grief, as was her son. This young man was described as a friendly and charming person who took an interest in the fate of every companion. He was also said to be good hearted and helpful. He had a natural liking for dogs and children, and dogs and children seem to naturally return his affection.

A turning point in his life came when he was blinded during a terrible war. He wept profusely in the hospital. It was the first time he had cried since the death of his mother eleven years before. In the agony of his blindness he prayed for sight and made a special promise to God. He promised God that should he regain his sight, he would devote himself to his country. He did regain his sight, and he did devote himself to his country.

This man was a strict vegetarian, and his commitment to his people caused him to refuse marriage. He asked that his people fear God, and nothing else. He gave generously to the poor while crying out "praised be Jesus Christ." He was even said to have given his own clothing to those who were less fortunate. He hated trash literature and felt a special kinship with God in rejecting the lukewarm, and spewing them out of his mouth. Once while carrying a whip, he nearly imagined himself to be Jesus Christ scourging out corruption in the Temple of God.

He was arrested and brought to trial because of his convictions. He wanted to take his cause to the Court of God, the eternal last court of Judgment and wrote: "before which we are ready to take our stand, then from our bones, from our graves, will sound the voice of the tribunal which alone has the right to sit in Judgment upon us . . ." He was sentenced to prison, but remained resolute and firm to his convictions. While in prison he began to write a book that would sell 10,000 copies the first six weeks it was in print. The book described his struggle against what he described as "narrow mindedness and personal spite."

He was worshiped and adored by millions. He was perhaps the greatest mover of his century. England's Sir Arnold Wilson said of him: "Under his influence, infant mortality was greatly reduced, TB and other diseases diminished, criminal courts never had so little to do, and prisons never had so few occupants." He was the first man in history to promote modern urban planning and anti-pollution devices for cities.

Who was he? Adolph Hitler!

Every one of these incredible statements about Hitler have been taken, almost verbatim, from the two volume history, ADOLF HITLER, by John Toland. Toland is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and his carefully documented books about Hitler were published by Doubleday and Co. in Garden City, N.Y. in 1976.

Uncle Steve had a Jewish professor when he was a student at M.U. in Rolla. Since this brilliant professor had been imprisoned in a Soviet Gulag I interviewed him for three hours and played the recording of those interviews over KOBC in Joplin. When I introduced myself as a Christian he said:

“Yes! I know something about Christianity. Adolf Hitler was a Christian.” I was taken aback by his answer. Further, however, I am convinced that he was wrong! While Jesus is the ultimate Judge, I believe the evidence will prove that Hitler was not a Christian at all. Certainly, not everybody who claims to be a Christian, is a Christian. Those who are truly Christian are "born of God," or "begotten of God." Those born of God are not like Hitler. Those who are born of God are like God. Consider these following Bible verses that describe those who are “born,” or “begotten of God.” These six verses are all recorded in I John:

1. Everyone that doeth righteousness is born of God (I John 2:29.)

2. Whoever is begotten of God does not abide in sin (I John 3:9.)

3. Everyone that loveth is begotten of God (I John 4:7.) 4. Those begotten of God love others begotten of God (I John 5:1.)

5. Those begotten of God overcome the world (I John 5:4.)

6. Those begotten of God, keep themselves, and the wicked one touches them not (I John 5:18.)

The Greek word translated as "born," or "begotten," is "gennao." It is used both of a man impregnating a woman, and also of a woman giving birth to a child. In either case, it is obvious that a child inherits the DNA of his father. Jesus told the Jews that their father was the devil. He could tell that by the way they behaved. The devil was a liar, and a murderer, and they were the same (John 8:44.)

Paternity tests can accurately determine who your father is by testing your DNA. Everyone who is “begotten of God” has the DNA of God. We too can get a pretty good idea who your father is by the way you behave. Peter put it like this: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but imperishable, through the living and eternal word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce