It is easy to make promises, and easy to forget them sometimes, but on December 7, 1941, Elmer Rund made a promise to God he could never forget.
At that time he was a P40 aircraft mechanic serving at Bellows Field. On that day nine Japanese Zero fighters began strafing the parked aircraft, and in the ensuing action two U.S. planes were shot down. Rund was next to Lt. Hans C. Christensen, a pilot, who was killed when the Japanese started strafing. He saw the enemy planes leaving, only to return immediately flying abreast with all guns firing down at the field.
His first reaction was to run as the bullets came nearer, thinking as he saw the tracers coming close, “This is the end!” Dropping to his knees he prayed, “Oh, God, spare me! I’ll do anything you want me to do!”
Miraculously the bullets never hit him, going right over his head. Truly God had spared him and, as he wondered at His goodness, he knew with certainty that God must have a purpose for his life—and that he must keep his promise to God.
Always in Rund’s mind was that promise, but it was fully ten years later, during service in the Korean war, that he finally understood God’s purpose and will for his life—in fact, for every life—that is, that God . . . is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Elmer Rund needed to repent and receive God’s Son, Jesus Christ, into his life in order to become, as John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) says, His child. If he did this, God promised that He would receive him and he would be assured of heaven when he died. Ever since that day in 1951 he has known in his heart that he has eternal life and he can enjoy being God’s child—a Christian.
Reading his Bible one day, he found another promise God had made to him and kept. In Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15) he read: Call upon Me in the day of trouble (facing death, Rund had certainly called upon God): I will deliver thee (the bullets passed right over his head), and Thou shalt glorify Me. To fulfill that purpose he began to tell his story to others.
Testifying to the way God had protected him, he spoke at a youth rally. How strange it seemed to meet another speaker: Captain Fuchida, the very man whose “Tora! Tora! Tora!” signalled the Pearl Harbor attack. He too had become a Christian, and together they witnessed to God’s redeeming love.
Now both these one-time enemies pray that you too would receive God’s forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ.