The Holocaust
May 20, 1940 - the Auschwitz camp was founded.
September 3, 1941 - the first victims of the Auschwitz camp met their death by gas. The deadly Zyklon B Gas was used. In all 6 million Jews and 5 million others met their death. Auschwitz was only one of the several death centers. Gypsies, Soviet POWs, homosexuals and ill prisoners of all nationalities were all victims of the holocaust. However, nine out of ten people killed in Auschwitz were Jews.
The world must never forget.
How could the human race have fallen to such depths?
The holocaust happened in the 20th century in Western Europe and in a Christian country.
The human race has improved everything except the human race
Adlai Stevenson.
Following the fall in the Garden of Eden the mankind has descended deeper and deeper into depravity. Civilisation has a very thin veneer. But for the grace of God the most noble of us is capable of the worst atrocities. Sin has touched our moral and spiritual nature.
The Bible presents the proper diagnosis:
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB)
and also states the prognosis
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 (NASB)
Doing ?what is right in our own eyes? is a result of not having the king of Kings lead us.
I talk not about religion or church attendance. They were doing that in abundance long before the holocaust. Let us never mistake church attending Christians for disciples of Jesus.
The heart of man is desperately wicked. We can deceive not only others but even ourselves.
We all need a good understanding of the potential for sin that lies within us.
The world has rightly placed the horrors of the Holocaust high on the remembrance list. As we sow the right thoughts we prevent the wrong deeds. Samuel Smiles adequately stated that
Sow a thought, reap an act.
Sow an act, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
How sincere are you with yourself?
If you are aware of the potential to sin that lay within you; you will be more reliant on the grace of God and less critical of others.
As we rightly condemn the deeds of evil men we should take a deep look into our own hearts.
Let us never forget how much we owe the Lord for godly life: it will prompt us to continuously look to him for help.
Let the words of Jesus be your guide
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4 (NASB)