Memorial Day, Jarheads and Jesus

Last Monday Americans observed Memorial Day. The day we celebrate those  that have given their lives in defense of our freedoms as Americans and in support of our way of life. These brave men and women, knowing the potential danger – knowing  their lives were at stake signed a piece of paper and in essence said “yes, I am willing to die for my country.” To be fair, this is admission of anyone that joins the military of their respective country – voluntarily or not – so feel free to applaud your men and women too.

You may not be of a mind to agree with the US military or its mission. You may feel a lot of ways when it comes to our or any county’s military so, good news, this is not  the place that we discuss or argue the evils and virtues of the military.

But I do want to talk about the sacrifices made by men and women in the name of their country in light of the sacrifice made by Jesus in the name of  human redemption.

When I consider what our fighting men give up for people and generations they’ll never meet I am reminded of the words of Abraham Lincoln. Who, in his Gettysburg Address said, “…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…”

Did you catch that?  The President said we can no longer live the way we have been else we risk tarnishing the memory of the fallen.

Almost seems as though this line could have come from scripture. I wonder if Lincoln was thing about Jesus when he spoke these words.

For me the only difference between the death of Christ and the deaths of our military personnel is that in the case of the US military, their deaths were to preserve a way of life where Christ’s death provided a way to a brand new life.

In Christ we receive life filled with love;  life free from the fear of nothing more than physical death.

I love that part.

Marines and soldiers die all the time – thank you guys – and someday I will have to as well but because of the death of Jesus I am not afraid of that death and the other has no hold on me.

 Are you afraid of death? If you’ve have a relationship with Jesus you need not. Let’s talk about it below.