Memorial Day
From my youth up, patriotism has been a major part of my life. As a young child, attendance at various Memorial Day services was “mandatory” as I would sit listening to the recital of the Gettysburg address, and Dad often was the keynote speaker regarding the reason for Memorial Day. As I matured into high school, marching in the parades was a valued experience. From my sophomore year onward, I was asked to “inspect” the younger band members for accuracy as they stood at attention in their uniforms. After the parades, I was honored to play TAPS at the cemetery, the greatest honor being the “echo” on this special day. Later in life, it was my distinct honor to be the keynote speaker for the service at Summerfield Cemetery. Even today, it is a time of honor, thankfulness, and remembrance for those who have served this country! As was so humbly stated by another, “Some still wear the uniform, some have retired the uniform, and some never took off the uniform.”
I have good memories of being friends with a man who was then, the last living veteran of WWI in Noble County, OH. When Fred Bodie died, I was asked to officiate his funeral. It has been my honor to have known many veterans of WWII, and yes, to officiate many of those funerals as well. God’s providence kept me from experiencing the horrors of any war, yet I’ve known and appreciated those who saw Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and other war-torn engagements. I have nothing but high esteem for these men and women! Their sacrifices have continued to protect what freedom we enjoy in this country! Saying, “Thank you for your service” is the least we can say!
For the Christian, there exists a much more fearsome engagement of “war” than the world will ever know. It is the war against sin! (2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 6:12). Christians have a “uniform” of spiritual design (Ephesians 6:10 – 17) that once fitted upon us, becomes our “order of the day”, and cannot be dismissed from our lives until we die (Revelation 2:10) without severe penalty (Hebrews 6:4 – 6: 10: 19 – 31). Therefore, with honor and distinction, we wear this uniform, but we wear it in respect of the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10).
Further, we Christians observe a “memorial day” each week. This is not in honor of those who have fought the good fight of faith before us and retained their faithful warfare until took them from life’s battlefield. While we respect those souls by following their faithful example (cf. Hebrews 13:7), the weekly memorial day we observe is in memory of our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23 – 29; Acts 20:7). Were it not for Him, we would have no hope of victory over sin (1 John 5:4). In remembering His body, we partake of the unleavened bread. As we break off a portion of that loaf, our minds should see the parted flesh of our Lord, caused by the cruel scourging and beating, and even the crown of thorns – all fulfilling the prophecy which said, “with His stripes, we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24) As we partake of the fruit of the vine, we are reminded of His shed blood – shed, not “spilled”, for He gave it willingly while He lived. The piercing of His side was simply and completely the cruel mutilation of a dead body! He shed His blood for the remission of my sins and yours (Matthew 26:28). By inspiration, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.” (Acts 2:38) When two things are equal to the same thing, they are equal to each other. Thus, the blood of Christ Jesus and our repentance and immersion into Christ is equal to the remission of sins! As Christians, do we remember this each time we observe His memorial? If not, why not? After all, the first day of every week is “memorial day” in honor of Christ Jesus!
Last, Memorial Day in our country is not only observed and respected, but it also continued throughout the day! Sadly, some Christians observe the Lord’s Day, HIS “memorial day” with much less dignity, respect, honor, and memory. To such ones, it is merely an hour or so of “worship service” that once ended, concludes their actions for the day. I know no one who considers any funeral with such an attitude. The sorrow and respect last often for months to years! Why not for Christ? Does He not merit our highest esteem, honor, and remembrance? If not, why not? If we wear the uniform of Christ, are we not expected to grant Him the highest degree of respect possible? Indeed, we thank Him for His loving sacrifice … and He expects the same of us! (Romans 12: 1 – 2)