This weekend, we set aside time to remember the sacrifices that were made by many to secure and protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. We appropriately call Monday “Memorial Day.” Many celebrate the day grilling, eating, shooting off fireworks, and visiting friends and family. Memorial Day is often considered to be the “official” beginning of summer vacations, especially here where our children are already out of school. These activities, along with perusing the many solemn, cross-filled landscapes of our national cemeteries are reminders of the lives not lost but offered as the greatest sacrifice any could ever give for their fellow countrymen. There are countless homes where Johnny never came marching home again. Is it only a day of remembrance though? It is not, for it is also a day for us to recommit ourselves to defending our liberties here and abroad. It is certain, too, that our freedoms were forged and built on the foundation of Biblical principle. These principles have governed our nation in many ways since she was founded by the Continental Congress and the local militias of the thirteen colonies. Some have tried to apologize for our stance on issues at home and internationally. America has been living out the spiritual “Golden Rule.” Hence, Alexis de Tocqueville said, “America is great because America is good,” and God has blessed us! If those of us who are now provided these freedoms dare not to stand for right, then we have laid down our arms and have surrendered our liberties to the foe. Abraham Lincoln, in his address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, said, “…It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–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–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” The task of protecting our freedoms and the ideals which our soldiers have died for is not over. Let us remind ourselves of the foundations which our nation was founded and build on that foundation in our succeeding generations. It is a worthy cause that our fallen heroes have died for and one that should not be forgotten. The war for right (because right still exists in God’s eyes) demands that we not be “summer soldiers” or “sunshine patriots.”
I’m looking forward to seeing you in our services tomorrow! It’ll be an exciting day. Some of the children and teens will be promoting up to new Sunday school classes. We also have a new men’s Sunday school class starting (at the SCA building) that will be taught by Bro. Dan Garvin. I’ll preach in the morning service about remembering some important things shown in the Scriptures. Tomorrow night, we’ll look at 1 Corinthians 16 to encourage you to keep on serving the Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Dennis M. Schaffer
