Three major conferences were held during
World War Two. Each involved the ‘Big Three’
powers: Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and
the United States. The first was in Tehran in
1943, attended by Churchill, Stalin, and
Roosevelt. The second was at Yalta in early
1945, also attended by Churchill, Stalin, and
Roosevelt. The final major conference was
held in Potsdam, after the war—after the
European war, that is (the war in Japan
continued, though not for much longer).
Roosevelt had died three months prior, so the
attendees in Potsdam were Churchill, Stalin,
and Truman. Also, the British election was
held in the midst of this conference, and
Churchill was defeated, so he was replaced in
the middle of the conference by his
successor, Clement Atlee.
I wonder what it must have been like for
Truman (or Atlee, for that matter) to be sent to
Potsdam. As Vice President, Truman surely
had received briefings after Tehran and Yalta.
Yet he had not attended either. At those
earlier conferences, the responsibility for
leading the nation fell squarely upon the
shoulders of Roosevelt. Truman was not at
that time accountable for decisions made. He
was not head of state. He was not in charge
of the ‘organization.’ He had important duties,
of course. But the buck did not yet stop with
him.
But Roosevelt died April 12 of that year,
and Truman became President. Truman
immediately was responsible for leading the
nation (Joshua, anyone?). Instantaneously, he
was accountable for decisions made. At the
death of FDR, Truman became head of state.
He was now in charge of the ‘organization.’
The importance of his duties increased
exponentially. The buck stopped with him.
Thus, it was his responsibility to go to
Potsdam. As President of the United States,
he was called to play a critical role in the
shaping not only of his country, but of the
entire world.
Throughout scripture, God raises up
people for his purposes and sends them on his
mission. In Genesis 12, Abraham—then
Abram—is told by God to go to a foreign place.
“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your
country and your kindred and your father’s
house to the land that I will show you. And I
will make of you a great nation, and I will bless
you and make your name great, so that you
will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless
you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,
and in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.’ So Abram went” (Gen 12:1-4a). Two
essential things for us to note: first, God places
a specific call upon Abram—to go to a new
place; second, Abram goes. God calls, and
Abram responds. Also, God continues to equip
Abram along the way.
In Isaiah 6, God shows Isaiah a vision,
after which Isaiah realizes he is unclean and
unworthy, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of
a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have
seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (v. 5). Yet,
like with Abram, God has plans for Isaiah. So
God asks a question, knowing in advance the
answer, “Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us?” (v. 8a). God is calling, and Isaiah
responds, “Here I am! Send me” (v. 8b). Also,
God continues to equip Isaiah along the way.
God is right now calling some of our men
into leadership as deacons. The prayer is that
those called will respond and say, “Send me.”
God has a plan, and God will continue to equip
along the way. –Ricky