Abraham
Lincoln -- For Such A Time As This
 A
Baltimore newspaper published the following story during the Civil
War: "Passing through one of the hospitals devoted exclusively
to Confederate sick and wounded, President Lincoln's attention
was drawn to a young Georgian.... "Every stranger that entered
(was) caught in his restless eyes, in hope of their being some
relative or friend. President Lincoln observed this youthful soldier,
approached and spoke, asking him if he suffered much pain. 'I
do,' was the reply. 'I have lost a leg, and feel I am sinking
from exhaustion.'
"'Would you,' said Mr. Lincoln, 'shake hands with me if I
were to tell you who I am?' The response was affirmative, 'There
should be no enemies in this place.'
"Then
said the distinguished visitor, 'I am Abraham Lincoln, President
of the United States.' The young sufferer raised his head, looking
amazed, and freely extended his hand, which Mr. Lincoln took and
pressed tenderly for some time."
Abraham Lincoln
hated war. He despised the pain and suffering and division it
brought. From the time he took office until the day the South
surrendered, he was consumed with two goals; end the war and preserve
the Union. However, historians agree Lincoln was never ready to
preserve the Union at all costs. Slavery was a bitter word that
rose in his mouth whenever he allowed himself to think of the
"monstrous injustice" it brought. It is a "cancer,"
said Lincoln, "one that is threatening to grow out of control
in a nation originally dedicated to the inalienable right of man."
Yet he held
no prejudice against the South. "They are just what we would
be in their situation." However, the issue of slavery and
the conviction that something must be done to stop its spread
were enough motivation to persuade Lincoln to pursue a career
in politics. In 1846 after having served one term on the Illinois
State Legislature (1834), he was elected to the U. S. Congress.
Four major defeats (to the Congress in 1848; the Senate in 1855
and 1858; and the U. S. Vice Presidential nomination in 1856)
kept him from public office until 1860 when he was chosen to represent
the Republican party during the Presidential election. Election
day found him waiting nervously at the Springfield, Illinois,
telegraph office for election results. By day's end, friends and
family addressed him as President-elect. "The North had swept
Lincoln into office," writes author Russell Freedman. "In
the South, his name hadn't even appeared on the ballot."
Lincoln was
born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1809. Thanks to the devotion
of his mother, Nancy, who died when he was quite young, and then
his stepmother, Sarah Bush, Lincoln grew to regard the Bible as
a foundational tool for life. Lincoln once said: "This great
book [the Bible]...is the best gift God has given to man...But
for it we could not know right from wrong." At the age of
twenty-two Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois, where he opened
his first store. Later, he met and became close associates with
Mentor Graham, the town's schoolmaster. It was through this friendship
and by joining Graham's debate team that Lincoln discovered his
talent as a public speaker. Friend and attorney, John Todd Stuart,
urged Lincoln to study law, saying it was a good profession, especially
if he wanted to enter politics. Three years later, he passed his
exams and began practicing law.
With his future
set, Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. The Lincolns
had three sons-Robert, Willie, and Tad. Despite his Christian
upbringing, Lincoln did not accept Christ as his Savior until
later in life. While he governed the nation by many of the principles
written in God's Word, he lacked a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ. After the death of his son, Willie, Lincoln heard
for the first time of Christ's personal love and forgiveness for
each man and woman.
He wrote:
"When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for
me; I was not a Christian. When I buried my son-the severest trial
of my life - I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg,
and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there
consecrated myself to Christ."
Finally, Lincoln
had found the inner peace he longed for all his life. Following
his salvation experience, he worshiped regularly at the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church and planned to make a public confession
of his faith. The war was winding down. Lee surrendered to Grant
on April 9- Palm Sunday, and Lincoln was re-elected President.
He gave thanks to God for bringing a close to the war and began
turning the nation's interest toward reconciliation and reconstruction.
However, five days later on Good Friday, he was shot by an assassin's
bullet.
Throughout
his life, Lincoln suffered many defeats - enough to make most
men give up. But not Abraham Lincoln. His dedication and commitment
found merit in heaven. He believed he was chosen "for such
a time as this." In the Gettysburg Address he wrote: "We
cannot escape history. We...will be remembered in spite of ourselves....In
giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free - honorable
alike in what we give, and what we preserve." been a miracle
of God's grace all the way through."
IN TOUCH®
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ITM, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, used with permission. All rights
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