This photo was taken in Hamburgin 1936, during the celebrations for the launch of a ship. In the crowd, one person refuses to raise his arm to give the Nazi salute. The man was August Landmesser. He has already been in trouble with the authorities, having been sentenced to two years hard labor, for marry a Jewish woman.
We know little else about August Landmesser, except that he had two children. By pure chance, one of his children recognized her father in this photo when it was published in a German newspaper in 1991. How proud she must have been in that moment.
This story reminded me of young Daniel who was taken to Babylon. When other brilliant young men were indoctrinated by Babylonian education, culture and faith, Daniel and his friends didn’t. The Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank…”
What a commitment! Instead of utilizing the opportunity to advance in Babylonian kingdom or purely going along with “everyone else,” Daniel lived by his conviction based on his faith in God. That’s something I should learn.
August Landmesser… I am proud of you, too! I pray that all Life Church people will live out their faith without compromise that our next generations would be proud of us. As Moses prayed, “May Your deeds be shown to Your servants, Your splendor to their children.” (Psalm 90:16).