On Thursday our nation paused to remember and honor those who served our nation during times of war. For the past several months there has been a movement to erect a monument to those who served our nation in World War 2. Americans owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed so much in service to their country.
As Christians we need to pause and remember the sacrifices made which contribute to
what we enjoy today. First, let us remember Jesus. He surrendered His home in heaven with
all that was involved with
it, so that He could come and live as a man among men. He surrendered His equality with
the Father, He let it go, to come to this earth according to Paul in Philippians 2:5ff.
That sacrifice involved much more than leaving heaven. He also sacrificed His earthly life
in order to pay the penalty for the sins of humanity.
A second group worthy of remembering is the apostles of Jesus. They were simple men who
left jobs and family to serve Jesus and, in the process, us. They were hated by the Jewish
rulers of the day, and so received terrible treatment at their hands. They were arrested,
threatened, beaten, and killed for their faithful proclamation of the gospel message.
A third group involves the martyrs from the early centuries of the church. From Steven in
Acts 7 through those killed by the Roman authorities, we learn the importance of
Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation
ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” They
remind us that the crown is worth whatever the cost may be.
A fourth group is composed of those who have gone on from Warners Chapel. Many people have
fondly spoken of departed saints from Warners. Some have left us in our four and one-half
years here. They are truly missed.
The nation honors those who served in the military with parades and speeches. The graves
of the dead are decorated. As we stop and consider those from Warners Chapel who have gone
on, the best way to honor their memories is by faithful, devout service to their Lord and
ours. They would not want parades or speeches. They would want us to continue what they
began: faithful, devout service to our Lord and
Savior, Jesus the Christ, and God the Father. We owe them so much. What we enjoy is a
result of
their labor and sacrifice with God’s providential blessings. May we remember their
efforts as soldiers of
the cross and honor them in the most fitting way possible: faithful service.
—Denny