And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

In the 11th century, a Spanish knight known as El Cid led the fight to free his country from Islam.

If you have ever seen the movie, you will remember how after he was killed his generals tried to avert a panic among the troops, by pretending their leader was still alive.

The movie did a good job in showing how they dressed the corpse in armor, strapped him to his horse, and tied a sword in his hand. It was equally accurate in showing how the body of the dead leader led the charge against the enemy.

After that, the truth goes out the window.

The movie shows El Cid's dead body winning a great victory. It didn't happen that way. That day the dead body didn't fool anybody, especially the Muslim army. The charge failed. The Spaniards were defeated, and they ran away in terror. Of course, that makes for a bad Hollywood ending.

The truth is this: a dead man makes for a poor leader.

Now, as a Christian, you may think following a dead man is a foolish idea. It is. But that doesn't stop people from doing it. For seven decades communism followed dead leaders like Marx and Lenin. It was just this past September that Rev. Sun Myung Moon -- a self-proclaimed Messiah -- went the way of all flesh. In every age people have followed false faiths and philosophies promoted by a dead leader.

This is what makes Christianity different. We Christians worship a living Lord. When our first parents sinned, a merciful God promised a Child would be born to save us. That promise was fulfilled, when a living Lord was born in Bethlehem. Thirty-three years later that living Lord came forth from the tomb on Resurrection Sunday.

Today a living Lord remains with us, as we lead our lives. Knowing Christ, our Commander-in-Chief, lives is why we can confidently go into each day's battle. With the Savior beside us we need not fear any army, any weapon, any problem the world or Satan puts in the field against us.

We know the ultimate, the final victory is ours because the war has been won by Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior, the Living Lord.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, this day and always, may I rejoice in the victory You have won for me. I don't know what tomorrow may bring or where I may end up, but I am confident I shall conquer because the living Lord is by my side. In His Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Nehemiah 12-13    Revelation 20

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