WE HAVE CONQUORED AT
ARQUES: YOU WERE NOT THERE 

                                       By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

      On September 22, 1589 HENRY of NAVARRE wrote to CRILLON whom he called "the bravest of the brave", after the Battle of Arques: "Hang yourself brave Crillon, we have Conquored at Arques and you were NOT there!" In other words: You missed it, Crillon. You were Not there

                 WERE YOU THERE; DID YOU SHOW UP?

      When it's all over and we all stand before God, will we be able to say, ‘I was there. I showed up’? How will you answer, when He asks: "What did you do with the talents I gave you? Where is the fruit of your labour in the vineyard I placed you? Why did you cave in, when I gave Myself without reservation for mankind? What did you do with the authority, power and spiritual gifts I put at your disposal?"

  Will you answer like the Unprofitable Servant, "I hid your talent in the ground"? (Luke 17: 7-10). Will you say like those who were bidden to the Marriage Supper: "I AM TOO BUSY; I bought a farm and must inspect it. I bought a new tractor and I must try it out. I got married and do not have the time to attend Your Supper."(Luke 14:16-24)

      MARTIN LUTHER stated: "I live as though Jesus Christ died yesterday, arose today and is coming again tomorrow!" That was his 'Philosophy of Ministry'. It was like yesterday that he stood at the cross and beheld our Saviour suffer, bleed and die. It was like this morning that he stood before His empty tomb and heard the angels say, “He’s not here. He is risen as He said!” To Luther, tomorrow could be the Day of His return!

                       GOD HAD A MAN HE COULD USE!

      Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation was completely sold out to God. He didn't back down. Other Reformers before him had been destroyed by the ‘bloody old Vatican Wolf’.  He poured his very life into the Gospel and broke the wicked Pope’s hold over Europe! He stuck with it to the very end and he won! He was there. He showed up!

as The old Negro Spiritual song asks: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? ...Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? ... Were you there when He rose up from the grave? 

      Can you say, "Yes, I was there"? Will you be there when He comes in the Rapture of the Church? Will you be there when He rides on His White Horse to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and the Plains of Megiddo to meet the Armies of the Antichrist?

      By the grace of God, I'll be there! And so will you, my friend. Let's stand together, strong in the Faith of Jesus!

     The Bible plainly states that all believers have died with Christ (Gal.2:20), were buried with Christ (Rom.6: 4), arose with Christ (Rom.6:4-12) and are presently seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:16). And should Christ tarry, we will return with Him when He comes to carry His Bride to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (1 Thes. 4: 13). And so shall we ever be with our Lord! (1 Thes.4: 17).

     Believers in Christ: You died with Him when you accepted His sacrificial death for you and He gave you His life. When you were baptized in water you were buried with him. When He arose, you arose with Him and are even now seated with Him in Heavenly places. We are in Him and He is in us and our real Home is in Heaven. When He comes again we will be joined together with Him forevermore! Hallelujah!

    CRILLON, as a Knight of Malta had fought against the Turks. He was called "the brave" by the Courts of France and "the man without fear" by the Army. King Henry 1V of Navarre and France called Crillon, "the bravest of the brave". 
  CRILLON was a compassionate man who forgave a would-be assassin and condemned the orchestrated slaughter of 110,000 unarmed Protestants by the Roman Catholic Church on St. Bartholomew's Day on August 24, 1572.

      Five times KING HENRY 1V had fought to take ARQUES. On September 20, 1589 the King wrote: "Crillon, we fought at Arques, without you. I would have loved to have had you by my side."

      It was almost like he was begging Crillon to join him but the ‘Brave One’ was unresponsive. Two days later on September 22, 1589 HENRY of NAVARRE wrote to CRILLON after the Battle of Arques, 

      "Hang yourself brave Crillon, we have Conquored at Arques and you were NOT there!" In other words: 'You missed it. You were not there. We didn’t need your help, Brave One!"

      That story reminds me of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane pleading with Peter, James and John to remain awake and pray with Him for one hour as He agonized in prayer and His sweat became like great drops of blood. 

                    COULD YOU NOT WATCH ONE HOUR?

     After his third call He said, "Sleep on now and take your rest, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." (Matt.26:45). In other words, "It's too late now. You were NOT there when I needed you. You missed it!"

      After one of his great victories, Napoleon Bonaparte of France minted a special Medal which he gave to each of his soldiers. On one side was the name of the Battle and on the other the words: 'I WAS THERE!'

      Let us not miss the coming battles for the souls of men and victories of changed lives and out-poured blessings, as we move forward in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us all be there!!!

     When it's all over may we be able to say, "I WAS THERE. I SHOWED UP." We must not let the Devil divert us, divide us or detain us in our march for Christ across this world. We can win and we will. Let’s stand together in this dark hour of backsliding, worldliness and apostasy! Amen and Amen.