WORDS THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN by Robert Soto

April 16, 2010

WORDS THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN by Robert Soto

Matthew 5:18 "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

I sometimes sit at night and feel for our leaders of times past. Their world was quickly disappearing and they had no place to go and no one to turn to. They were wanted in both Mexico and in the United States. American soldiers were violating the law by going into Mexico and attacking Apaches. The question is why would our people give up? Why would they insist on keeping on with their lifestyle and way of life if they knew that it would soon end? One reason was that our Apache people, as with hundreds of other tribes, knew that no matter what they were promised, those making the promises were not planning to keep their word. So how could you trust the words of people who would do whatever it took to take what was not theirs - the land? Geronimo, like the majority of those leaders, suffered with the decisions they made, thinking and hoping they were doing what was best for their people.

So there Geronimo sat in prison, realizing that his biggest nightmare had come true. What they promised they did not do. Geronimo said, "For nearly two years we were kept at hard labor in this place and we did not see our families until May, 1887. This treatment was in direct violation of our treaty made at Skeleton Canyon." Everything they ever promised Geronimo was gone. Every word they had given him was considered a lie. Every treaty, signed was lost and now Geronimo stood in prison thinking of those words and seeing his men and women and children die because of his own words and his mark on a paper with words he prayed would be kept. I'm not sure what to say and what to think, but I can say one thing, I am glad that God's Word is not like the promises given to Geronimo and thousands of our tribal leaders in times past. If God promised He would do it, He will do it. If He promised it would come true, it would come true. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church