Already Dead

Last week my family watched the 1949 award-winning film, Twelve O’clock High, with Gregory Peck. It tells the true story of an American Air Force unit in England during World War II. With poor leadership, low morale, and a lack of discipline, the base remains in a state of chaos and cowardice, plagued by laziness and fear. They struggle to carry out their assignments and continue to put both themselves and the Allied forces in danger.

When the general in charge comes to inspect the outfit, more trouble ensues. Brigadier General Frank Savage takes command, but he is hardly welcomed by the unit. He does not befriend the pilots, but he does earn their respect. Encouraged by his loyal secretary, and a crew that begins to take pride in themselves, he is eventually able to turn their resentment and aimlessness into commitment and courage.

At one point in the film, General Savage calls the pilots together. He reminds them why they’re there. They are in a war, “a shooting war,” and fighting is not an option. “We’ve got to fight,” he tells them. “And some of us have got to die. I’m not trying to tell you not to be afraid. Fear is normal, but stop worrying about it and about yourselves. Stop making plans. Forget about going home. Consider yourselves already dead. Once you accept that idea, it won’t be so tough.” Such a speech may not “fly” in our day.

“Consider yourselves already dead.” I began to wonder how my perspective would change if I saw life more as a privilege. In the context of World War II, General Savage told his pilots essentially to count themselves as dead men; if they live, it is an unexpected blessing. Without worrying or thinking about the future or about self-preservation, the unit would be free to give their all to their war and their general. Making no plans to go home would make a difference in how they faced the enemy.

Our brave soldiers of World War II did not deserve death at the hands of the Nazis. We, however, deserve a much graver one. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 3:23). It is what God promised Adam and Eve would happen (Gen. 2:17). It is what we have earned.

This is more somber than other posts I have written, but if we truly count ourselves as dead men, life becomes a privilege. Rather than entitled, we are grateful. And trusting God with our future, it becomes much easier to give it our all in His service. He turns our aimlessness into discipline and our cowardice into courage. He takes our fear and ignorance and gives us self-respect and honor, and He gives us a team worth fighting for.