Remember and Honor

 Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day for remembering and honoring the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30th, 1868 and was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War. But the idea originated in 1866, two years earlier, when many Southern groups – especially women – decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers as well as those of their former enemies who fought for the Union. When word of this spread to the Northern states, the newspapers lauded the Southern women, and one wrote, "The act was as beautiful as it was unselfish, and will be appreciated in the North." And that act led to Memorial Day becoming a national observance.

There are those who suggest that since Memorial Day isn't a religious holiday, Churches who prominently display American flags are placing patriotism over their allegiance to Jesus. - We're not worshipping America, but rightly honoring those who gave their lives for this country and our freedom. As Christians, we need to acknowledge that we have this freedom only because God has allowed us to have it. And it has been obtained through sacrifice that was consistent with God's purposes.

And I know some 'bristle' suggesting there are political overtones to patriotic displays. But this is not about the right or the left. Many men and women over the course of our national history - who may or may not have agreed with your personal political, moral or religious views and yet - they still gave their lives to preserve your freedoms. Those lives were offered because there was a consensus of mind that those freedoms were worth dying for. Many of you may have family members who gave their lives to preserve the principles upon which this great nation was founded.

Today, I'd like to encourage us to…

I. Remember the sacrifice

As humans, we get busy with life and we forget. We need times when we stop and reflect.

***Video – "Memorial Day Prayer"

We need to remember those who sacrificed…

A. For their country

There's a reason we honor those who've given their lives. And it transcends a person's politics or patriotism. The reason we honor them is because - human life is sacred. We are unique in all of creation! There are no animals that set up memorials to their fallen brethren. This is something unique to the human condition. We honor the lives of men and women who died because they were created by God for His purposes. In the Old Testament, God said to Israel, in Isaiah 43:5-7 (NIV)...

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. (6) I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - (7) everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

We mourn the loss of those who gave their lives for who they were – and - for whose they were. They belonged to God; they were created in the image of God. Those who gave their lives for their country, for your freedom and mine, should be honored for their sacrifice.

On Memorial Day, as followers of Jesus, we also need to remember those who sacrificed…

B. For their faith

There have been men and women throughout history who have given up their lives for their faith in Jesus. The term we use for those individuals is 'martyr' which means witness. The first record we have of a person who chose to give up his life rather than deny Jesus is a man by the name of Stephen. When Stephen preached to the Jewish ruling council and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, it wasn't received well…

Acts 7:55-60 (NIV)

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (56) "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (57) At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, (58) dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

(59) While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (60) Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen gave his life as a witness for Jesus. - Couldn't Stephen simply have kept silent at that point and just walked away to live and fight another day? Stephen knew there are things worth dying for and his faith in Jesus was one of them.

And... remember the young man named Saul present at Stephen's death. Remember that he was the man later called Paul whom God chose to preach and reach countless millions through his letters in the New Testament. Because of Stephen's sacrifice along with countless thousands of other martyrs, the faith has been spread and we are the beneficiaries of it today.

If it weren't for their sacrifice, we might have never heard of Jesus. Where would we be without Jesus?

We need to remember those who gave their lives for their country, those who gave their lives for their faith and ultimately we need to remember The One who sacrificed…

C. For our sin

A sacrifice made for one's country can make a huge difference. Jesus' sacrifice has made an eternal difference for those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

If we look in the 4th chapter of Luke, we find Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth…

Luke 4:17-21 (NIV)

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: (18) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, (19) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

(20) Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, (21) and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Many have fought and died for our country's freedom. Jesus brought freedom from the eternal consequence of sin! Jesus brought salvation! Jesus is The way to the Father! At the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus instituted a now familiar memorial for us to remember His sacrifice.

Luke 22:19-20 (NIV)

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (20) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Each week we offer a time of communion to remember the eternal significance of what Jesus did for you and for me. I've talked a bit about remembering sacrifice today, but we need to do more than just remember.

This coming Dec. 4th will be my 25th wedding anniversary with my wife Erin. What if that date came and I failed to say anything to Erin about it all day...? Then, that evening, suppose she says with tears in her eyes, "You forgot our anniversary!" But then I say, "Honey, of course I remembered - I just didn't feel the need to say anything to you." How do you think that would go? Would simply remembering take the place of actually saying and doing something?

Shouldn't I do more than just remember? Remembrance demands action. What I'm suggesting is that we not just remember the sacrifices we've talked about today, but that we…

II. Honor the sacrifice

You may have heard the news story and seen the video of a group of college boys at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They came under both verbal and physical attacks after they stepped in to prevent the American flag from touching the ground and being damaged after protestors attempted to change it for the Palestinian flag.

Now I don't know any of those young men, nor do I know anything about their morality outside of what's displayed in this picture. But they believed strongly enough to do something and take a stand. There are many who remember the sacrifice, but fewer who will do something about that remembrance.

Now sadly, this incident has become political and some have criticized it as 'hyper masculine', jingoistic or using strength to intimidate. Now, you are completely allowed to disagree with me about my opinion regarding this story and the actions of those young men. But I say, "That was the right thing to do! Way to go!" And the reason we can have that disagreement is because of…

A. Freedom

As Americans we enjoy a lot of freedoms that many in other countries do not. One of those freedoms that we still currently have is the freedom to assemble and to worship as we choose. One way to honor the sacrifice is to avail ourselves of that freedom and worship regularly.

Now, having perfect attendance in Church services doesn't automatically qualify you for Heaven. Your relationship with Jesus is what gets you to Heaven. So why is very regular attendance important?

Several reasons - not to get too dramatic here, but it is a reality - because men and women died for your right to be here... Also, because it's a way to remember Jesus' sacrifice and it's a way to honor that sacrifice. Remembrance demands action. It's one thing to tell Jesus you remember what He did for you. It's another to show Him by making 'being a part of His Church' a priority. Do you have a casual relationship with His Church, or are you committed to His Church? Actions speak louder than words.

We have been given the great gift of freedom. The challenge is to use that freedom wisely.

1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

I have seen some Christians misunderstand the freedom that they have been given in Christ. They use the phrase, "Freedom in Christ" to justify actions or attitudes – but what they're really practicing isn't their freedom in Christ; it's more like freedom from Christ. Yes, we have a lot of freedom as Christians and it's not the law that makes us righteous – but I think David understood the relationship between the law and freedom as we see in Psalms 119:43-45 (NIV)...

Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. (44) I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. (45) I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

God didn't make laws to hold us back, but to protect us; to help us live amazing lives, free of the direct consequences of sin. You are free to live however you wish, but exercising your freedom to choose God's ways rather than your own will always benefit you the most!

We need to remember the sacrifices and to honor them so that they are…

B. Not in vain

In this country, we have the freedom to vote in elections for our leaders. But there are thousands of Americans who've never taken the time to vote. They figure their vote really makes no difference. Now it may or may not, and in an odd sense they're even exercising their freedom to not vote.

But one thing I can tell you for sure, not honoring Christ's sacrifice and living your life for Him will make a huge difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. Jesus didn't die for the sole purpose of you sitting in a pew on a Sunday morning. That's a very good thing, but there's so much more to following Jesus than that.

You remember at the beginning, I mentioned the Southern women who honored the fallen soldiers of both the North and the South...? They demonstrated their belief in the sanctity of human life even in those fallen soldiers who were previously their enemies. That simple, gracious act lead to reconciliation that helped heal a nation.

Are you willing to live out your faith and influence those around you for Jesus? Do those outside of these four walls ever see Jesus in your life, or do you only act as a memorial to His sacrifice on Sunday morning? Going out and serving others is an act of worship! Jesus died for you – He wants you to live for Him. And - there's a future hope for those who are faithful. And it's always been God's plan for His people!

We can look back to the Old Testament, even before Jesus' death and resurrection - and we can see God's plan forming in Malachi 3:16-18 (NIV)...

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. (17) "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession.

I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. (18) And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

Jesus gave His life to provide a way for all of His creation to be reunited with the Father. Remember His sacrifice and honor it by telling others the Good News of Jesus!

So What?

Please, enjoy Memorial Day tomorrow. But also remember the purpose of that day. Remember those who gave all for their nation - and maybe say a little prayer for their families.

We have many monuments and statues for those who have gone before us. We don't honor Jesus with statues and monuments because Jesus is alive! We honor Jesus by living for Him and telling others what He's done for us.

And I want to close us out by asking you to specifically do something this week. As a way to honor Jesus - do something for Jesus. And this will be different for each person. Maybe some will be led to talk to someone about Jesus. Maybe your 'love language' is a gift, or maybe giving money – maybe to the Women's Care Center? Maybe it's visiting a shut in, or maybe mowing the lawn of an elderly person...? – Be creative, you've probably got lots of better ideas than I have. But I'm asking you to do more than just remember - do something for someone because of what Jesus has done for you!