"August 2nd - This Day in History"

“August 2nd… this day in history” is an unusual way to begin a devotional. However, I thought it might be at least instructional, and hopefully inspirational! Here’s just a brief list of some of the things that have happened on this day:

 1914 – perhaps the first “bailout” of a nation. As a result of the economic instability caused by World War I, American bankers were seriously considering an issue of emergency currency within a week’s time. In Washington a conference between President Woodrow Wilson and New York Foreign exchange officials were going to discuss the possibility of allowing England an unprecedented amount of $100,000,000 credit.
 1934 – the rise of Nazism. Adolf Hitler, the chancellor of Germany, became the country's Fuhrer ( president and chancellor ) today after German President Paul Von Hindenburg died.
 1943 – a future president becomes a hero. Lt. John F. Kennedy of the United States command, the PT-109 is sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri while on patrol near the Solomon Islands. The future president was credited with saving members of his crew.
 1949 – a great comedian is injured. Comedian, Bob Hope ended up in Hollywood’s Presbyterian Hospital as a result of been bucked off by his fake steed while working on a Hollywood film set. Hope was straddling a barrel rocked by Lucille Ball when it rolled over and sent him flying.

Oh, I suppose I also ought to mention that it is also the day I was born! Some of the events above were history changing events, some merely incidental occurrences that were recorded because of the personality involved. And, while my birth was certainly recorded by the hospital and celebrated by my family, I’m quite certain it was not a moment of historical importance! That day would come later in my life, at my second birth. Nearly twenty years after making my entrance into this world I came to an understanding of who Jesus was and how He had died to provide me with eternal life. While the second birth would not have happened without the first, the second birth was the most important. It is for all of us.

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV).

I certainly hope that I have made a difference in the lives of people that I have ministered to over these last forty-one years, however, the real measure of success in life is not “in the numbers.” It is in THE number. That number is the One who gave Himself on my behalf so that I might have eternal life, now and then. That’s how you make a difference in history! Do you know the One who brings life? You can. Just ask!