Louis Zamperini
If you haven’t read Laura Hillebrand’s book, Unbroken, you need to put it on your “must read soon” list. I’d recommend the book before the movie. In fact, I’d recommend you view the Fox News Channel’s documentary on Zamperini’s life before I’d ever recommend Hollywood’s version of anybody’s life. You see, the movie producers conveniently failed to include the most significant event in the war hero and Olympic champion’s life: his salvation experience at a Billy Graham Crusade. Louis got to know God in a most profound way that night.
In the Book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, it’s God speaking to His people. He says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boaast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me” (Jer. 9:23-24 NIV).
The truth is, if you don’t know God it doesn’t matter how much money you have or what title you hold in the company… until you have a relationship with God, you really haven’t begun to live. A BIG part of getting to know God is learning the truth about yourself. It’s the truth that people have a hard time accepting but, as the Bible says: “The truth will set you free.” Zamperini had to face the truth about himself that night in LA at the Billy Graham Crusade. He might have been an Olympic champion and a war hero but his life was a train wreck! He was an alcoholic and a miserable excuse for a husband. God changed all that the night that Louis heard Rev. Graham say that “we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.”
The neat thing is that God doesn’t tell you the truth about yourself and then leave you that way. No, like a good doctor, He tells you you’re sick so that you can get the proper treatment. And the proper treatment for sin is salvation through the Blood of Jesus Christ!
You will never know God until you are related to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, if you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior, what better way to start a new year than by praying: “Lord, I repent and turn away from my sinful ways. Heal me Lord Jesus. I place my life in Your hands. I trust You as my Savior and Lord of my life. By faith, I receive the gift of eternal life that You offer. Starting today, I ask You to guide me and help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!”
Zamperini prayed a prayer similar to that and his life was never the same. God healed him of his alcoholism and restored his marriage. Louis spent the rest of his life sharing his story of redemption that came about because he finally admitted that he couldn’t do it on his own. He needed Jesus. I encourage you to do the same.
Happy New Year!
