"Give Thanks To Jehovah, For He is Good"
Psalm 106:1
2015 year text

Friday, November 16, 2012

A History Lesson-

I will not forget.






I went with a friend to Encino, California to see a presentation entitled "Ladder out of the Lion's Den."
This presentation was about Leopold Engleitner,  a survivor  of  the Buchenwald, Niederhagen and Ravensbruck concentration camps. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, his conscience would not allow him to serve in Hitler's army.  "Ladder out of the Lion's Den" specifically about all he had to do was to sign a paper renouncing his faith and he would be free to walk out of the concentration camp.

The book, "Unbroken Will", is the story of his life and why he did not sign this document. The purpose of this presentation is to ensure that what happened under Nazi Germany is not forgotten, and to emphasize the vital importance of tolerance and humanity to ensure peace. Yes, especially our youth are encouraged to base their lives on just principles and not be swayed by the imperfect philosophy of men.
Why do I find this subject interesting?

Because, Leopold Engleitner and many other ordinary men and women showed by example that imperfect people could follow closely in Jesus footsteps and obey his commandments, even at great cost to themselves. They were able to fully apply Jesus command, "This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends" -John 15:12, 13

To be able to put God's interest first in their lives is a faith worth imitating.

For a short version of his experience see the following link:

Leopold Engleitner

Because I feel education, learning from history will help honest-hearted people to apply Godly principles in their own lives, in this way, no loving person will contribute to anything like this happening again, for this reason I have posted this information.

For the life story of two others who lived through this terrible time in history and how they came out spiritually undamaged please see:

Andrej Hanak

Natalie Holtorf

May we have God's view of people and kindly help others to put their trust in Jehovah's saving power. Then, under all circumstances may each individual apply in his life, these words:

"Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God. He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was made manifest in our case, because God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.
    Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are ourselves under obligation to love one another."  -1 John 4:7-11

Compare: 1 John 3:10-12

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