Lesson 176: The Bible is the Book of Books

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21: 36

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”  Romans 12:12

As we reflect upon May 1, 2008, being designated as the National Day of Prayer, let us recall those who have gone before that served this nation so gallantly.  I am assured they did not set aside one day of remembrance but prayed unceasingly for God’s guidance and safety.  Is it not strange that during time of crisis we tend to turn to God but when the storm has subsided, we forget the One who saved us?  All you have to do is look at letters from soldiers and realize that they prayed constantly, asking a gracious God to protect them and to watch over their loved ones.  Prayer is a habit and if we practice the skill earnestly, we shall find prayer comes at every juncture and will be answered according to His design and will.  Let us resolve to pray in all things, offering praise in the storms of our lives as well as the joy.  Soon you will find dear reader that all things in life are for the glory of God.  Through the trials and tribulations of our life, we can be triumphant when we find ourselves on our knees in prayer.

In all things Robert Edward Lee sought the guidance of his Creator through prayer.  He believed that the Bible was the divine revelation to man and that within the old ragged book that he always carried was all the answers to the questions of life.  He was an avid reader of the Bible and believed in its truths.  He had a practice of reading it in the morning, the evening and sharing its wisdom during family devotionals.  But when did his conversion and complete submission to God’s will occur?  Some speculate that it was during the Mexican War (Somewhere between 1847-1848).  On July 17, 1853, after hearing a sermon entitled, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” by Bishop John Johns of Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Lee came forward with two of his daughters (Anne, the one he called Raspberry, and Mary, known as Daughter), kneeling at the altar and professed publicly his faith.  But to this author this was simply an act of faith by a man that had committed his heart to Christ years earlier.  His mother was devoutly faithful in following her God and there is no doubt that he was brought up in a Christian home.  There is no doubt that his mother nurtured him and taught him the very morals and values that he later so eloquently modeled.  His example at West Point offers insight into his example, as do the writings of General Winfield Scott.  But in truth the evolution of his strong Christian character and conviction is only known of God.  For is this not the essence of salvation?  General Lee led by example and the Light that he chose to follow was one that made him the man of marble and a true Christian hero for all times.  This we know through his thousands of letters; he was a man of prayer and deep seeded faith.  He prayed openly and was seen on many occasions on his knees with his fellow soldiers and parishioners.  The following are a series of statements that demonstrate his love of the book of books and his devotion to daily prayer.   Kneeling before the cross in prayer prior to standing in the presence of the people, I am humbled to be the Old General.

“The Bible is the Book of Books”

“I Salute the Church of God!”

“There are many things in the old Book which I may never be able to explain, but I accept it as the infallible Word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Ghost.”

“I prefer the Bible to any other book.  There is enough in that to satisfy the most ardent thirst for knowledge; to open the way to true wisdom and to teach the only road to salvation and eternal happiness.  It is not above human comprehension, and its sufficient to satisfy all its desires.”

Upon discovery of a child that had been named after him, General Lee wrote the child stating what he believed was the key to life.  They were all contained within the covers of the Bible.

“Above all things, learn at once to worship your Creator and to do His will as revealed in His Holy Book.”

“There is no labour so beneficent, so elevated and so sublime, as the teaching of salvation to every man.”

“My chief concern is to try to be a humble, earnest Christian.”

“People must help themselves; or Providence will not help them.”

“The object of this life is to prepare for a better and brighter world.”

“How good God is to us!  Oh that I could praise Him and thank Him as I ought.”

“This morning the glorious sun is out, and will soon warm and dry us.  How good is God!”

“No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of thankfulness and an intercession for guidance.”

“My whole trust is in God, and I am ready for whatever He may ordain.”

“God does not always give the battle to the strong.”

“God disposes.  This ought to satisfy us.”

(Found in a drawer at Lee’s home after his death)

“God knows what is best for us.”

(July 9, 1862, letter to his wife)

“I try to keep my eyes and thought fixed on those eternal shores to which I am fast hastening.” (Excerpt from a letter to Markie)

“God’s will ought to be our aim, and I am quite contented that His designs should be accomplished and not mine.”

“God alone can save us from our folly, selfishness and short sightedness.”

"We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer.  And we need to pray earnestly for the power of the Holy Spirit to give us a precious revival in our hearts and among the unconverted."

“We must rely for guidance and protection upon a kind Providence.”

“Young men must not expect to escape contact with evil, but must learn not to be contaminated by it.”

“Nothing will compensate us for the depression of the standard of our moral and intellectual culture.”

“We must implore the forgiveness of God for our sins, and the continuance of His blessings.  There is nothing but His almighty power that can restrain us.”

“Leave the Results to Him”

In 1866 General Lee in a conversation with J.W. Jones stated one of the most profound statements about resolution and acceptance of the result of the war.  Again one can feel his firm conviction in trusting God in all things.

“We have humbly tried to do our duty.  We may, therefore, with calm satisfaction, trust in God, and leave results to Him.”

“Joy Out of Your Present Misery”

 

Upon learning of the death of his granddaughter, General Lee acting in the capacity of a consoling father again revealed the true character of his Christian nature.  He penned the following message to his beloved daughter-in-law, Charlotte, in an effort to comfort her.

“May God give you strength to bear the affliction He has imposed, and produce future joy out of your present misery, is my earnest prayer.”

“As soon as I order them forward into battle, I leave my army in the hands of God.”

 

“I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me.  I know too well my weakness, and that our only hope is God.”

"What a glorious world God Almighty has given us. How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labour to mar His gifts."

 

“Perfect and true are all His ways, whom heaven adores and earth obeys.”

“With calm satisfaction, trust in God and leave results to Him.”

“We must all try to be good Christians-that is the most important thing.”