General Flores was Commander-in-Chief of 20,000 Bolivian troops in the Chaco War. In the space of three years 60,000 men died in that awful jungle conflict. The Bolivians were at a terrible disadvantage not being used to the jungle. Many of them died of malaria and fever. The Chaplain yearned for the souls of these dear men and preached the Gospel to them at any hour of the day or night as they moved up to the trenches.
General Flores himself took a real interest in the Gospel. He and his staff would sit around on munition boxes listening while the missionary preached to them of God's love in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to die for sinful men. He told them, too, of judgment to come if they refused God's way of salvation.
One verse the missionary quoted which seemed especially to awaken in the General a realization of his need of Christ was Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3): "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation."
One evening he preached from the verse, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Heb. 9:27,2827And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27‑28)). At one point he turned to the General, who was sitting near him, and said, "General, you have escaped the bullets and the bombs these three years, but there's one thing you cannot escape."
"What is that?" asked the General.
"Sir, you cannot escape the judgment of God if you reject Christ, His only begotten Son, whom He sent to take our place and suffer the judgment for us."
The General was silent for a few moments, then said, "Then I must accept Christ as my Savior and make my peace with God." Even though some of his men were present, he got on his knees with the Chaplain. Before he got up again, he had confessed Christ as his Savior and thanked God for His love and grace. Another trophy of the grace of God!
Phil. 2:10,110That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10)
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (Philippians 2:1)1 Says that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Often the General and the Chaplain were seen searching the Scriptures together. They became real friends. One day the General said to his Christian friend, "I want you to come to the Capital, La Paz, as soon as we are released from this war." (The war was already over, and the men were beginning to go home.) He continued, "I have a wife and an only daughter; they are both unsaved. I will make arrangements for you to come to my home with the Gospel of Christ, and I want you to preach the Gospel to my wife and daughter."
It was not long after that they were released from the Army and able to go home. The missionary went to La Paz and enjoyed visiting the General and his wife and daughter. He had the joy of leading them both to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, the General had already confessed the Lord as His Savior to them, telling of his joy in the Lord. It was obvious to them his life was changed.
Some time later General Flores was sent to take charge of an army on the Brazilian Frontier. The missionary received word that his friend and brother in Christ was "with the Lord." He was apparently hit by a poisoned arrow, shot by an Indian from one of the tribes living on the Frontier.
Sudden death is sudden glory for the Christian, and so dear General Flores was with Christ. He will see his beloved wife, and daughter and his missionary friend when "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16,1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)).
"They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:9,109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10)).