OUR SAVIOR and OUR LIBERATOR, proclaimed banners hanging across streets and buildings every. where throughout the city.
At 4:30 P.M., . Julyy 3, 1961. General Douglas MacArthur arrived at the Manila International Airport aboard a Military Air Transport Service jet provided by U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Responding to an invitaiion extended earlier by President Carlos P. Garcia, MacArthur had come home in order to participate in the celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of Philippine independence.
Greeted by an explosion of pandemonium, MacArthur, at age eighty-one, stepped off the Boeing 707 jet dressed in his familiar khakis and crushed cap. Respectfully, he saluted the dignitaries assembled to welcome him for his first visit to the Philippines since the end of World War II. Following words of greeting, a band played the ballad "Old Soldiers Never Die." Afterwards, MacArthur and his wife, Jean, settled into a limousine for the shon journey from the airport to Malacañang Palace.
Huge crowds numbering in the millions packed the streets and dangled from building windows during the trip to the palace in order to catch a glimpse of the man most Filipinos considered to be a native son. Despite the short distance from the airport to the palace, the motor. cade took two hours to travel through the massive crowds of people. Nagsiksikan! Even the school children, taking advantage of the officially declared national holiday, chanted songs praising MacArthur as young girls tossed flowers in his path. MacArthur himself proclaimed the trip "a sentimental journey."
Almost twenty years earlier, MacArthur had uttered three of the most famous words in world history. Following his forced evacuation from Corregidor to Australia, during World War II, MacArthur had boldly proclaimed to the Filipino people, "I shall return." Weeks earlier, as overwhelming Japanese forces pounded "the rock," MacArthur received a message from Franklin D. Roosevelt, the U.S. President. Roosevelt instructed MacArthur to proceed to Australia in order to assume his newly appointed responsibility as supreme army chief for the Pacific. Prior toLo his departure, however, MacArthur was advised by Carlos Romulo, the chief Filipino propagandist of Corregidor, to extend a promise directed at Filipinos assuring them of his ultimate return to the Philippines. According to the words of Romulo, "if he says that he is coming back, he will be believed" _paniniwalaan siya.
Of course, the world knows MacArthur waded ashore on the beaches of Leyte on October 19, l944, and proclaimed though a radio transmitter:
People of the Philippines, I have returned. .. . Rally to me! . . . The guidance of divine God points the way. Follow in His name lo the Holy Grail or righteous victory!'
General Douglas MacArthur
Jesus promises those who have faith, "I will come back."
The rest is history. Seldom are men fortunate enough to make and actually fulfill as great a promise as that of General MacArthur. Not only had he been able to fuIfill his first promise to return in 1944, but now he was able to return for a second dramatic appearance in 1961. It was truly a "second coming." Tinupad niya ang kanyang pangako!
THINK ABOUT IT
As exciting and dramatic as those moments must have been to Filipinos and the world, they are as total darkness compared to the brilliant light radiated by the second coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ promises those who believe:
. . . after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.
John 14:3
Despite winning the hearts of millions of Filipinos, General Douglas MacArthur is not "OUR SAVIOR" nor "OUR LIBERATOR." No matter how much you may or may not approve of MacArthur, he was just a man. In spite of his commitment to return to the Philippines during World War II, General MacArthur was as human as you and I are human. Tao lamang siya. However, the Son of God was not just a man, He is God. When He says He will return, He will certainly return! Tiyak na babalik siya dahil ipinangako niya.
If you are willing to place your faith in Jesus right now, you can look forward to eternal life with him in heaven. He promises you that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven when you place your faith in Him as your Savior.
Your faith in Christ alone, not your works or commiment to church and human rituals, assures you a place in the Kingdom of God. If you are willing to trust in Jesus as your Savior, then the words of St. Paul will bring assurance and comfort to your life:
For we know that when this tent we live __ Our body here on earth-is torn down, God will have a house In heaven for us to live in , a home he himself has made, which will last forever. 2 Corinthlans 5:1
According to St. Paul, when you receive eternal life as a free gift from God, you will only live a full and meaningful life__buhay na malabuluhan-here on earth, but you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.
PRAY ABOUT IT
I am grateful that you have promised to return to earth from heaven, Lord. There may be difficult days in my life when I feel discouraged and hopeless, but I know you have provided hope through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving me and providing a Savior for my life.
Have a nice Day!
By: Orchidaceae
Thank You!