Only a Generation Away

Yesterday was Memorial Day. Watching the war movies listening to the radio station, and all of the personal recounts of loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice was heart-wrenching. Those words returned to my head “the ultimate sacrifice” and “willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

I thought about the thousands of soldiers who made that sacrifice. Then I thought about Jesus’ words, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Those who gave their lives, which we celebrated yesterday, most likely gave it to the man beside them. We benefited from it because we remain free, but I would wager many were in a circumstance where they saved the ones with them. They knew them. They were war brothers and sisters. The person next to them was a friend. You can't help but stand back in awe and think, could I have done that? Do I have that in me?

Without trampling on the many who gave that sacrifice, without demeaning their loss to their family, imagine you willingly died for someone who was not even born yet or conceived. Christ did that. He suffered and died giving up His life for you. Before you even knew Him, He was willing to die for you.

We can never repay those who sacrificed their lives to defend this country, and we are forever grateful. Jesus, we can repay. Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1 ESV). We can continue our sanctification as we grow closer to God by becoming a living sacrifice.

As we celebrate the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, let us remember that the freedom they defended is only a generation away from obscurity. Defend freedom, our country, and our right to worship our God. Thank you to the many who sacrificed themselves for these things.

May God’s peace and grace be with you.