Remembering the Fallen

Remember the Fallen

“No one that engaged in warfare entangles himself

with the affairs of this life;

that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

2 Timothy 2: 4, NKJV

I don’t know the day. I wasn’t there when the official government vehicle drove up the gravel driveway; when the officer knocked on the screen door, handed my mother-in-law a notice, and his heartfelt condolences. Her son, my husband’s brother, was declared a casualty of war on July 4, 1970.

This weekend, our country remembers her soldiers who paid the ultimate price in defending our country and those across the globe who desire to be free. Those soldiers deserve honor and respect. As well as all those who took the risks and were blessed to return home. You are remembered.

Being a good soldier requires single-mindedness, knowing and obeying orders, following the strategies of those over them, and realizing the risks involved. Another war plagues our globe and beyond. It involves the same single-mindedness.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Ephesians 6: 12, KJV

When Paul speaks of Christians warring and encourages the young man Timothy to—

“endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,”

 we shouldn’t expect the life of a follower of Christ to be an easy life.

As we remember our country’s fallen soldiers, let’s not forget those who sacrificed their lives in order to show us the way to victory in the battles waged by the rulers of spiritual darkness.

The writer of the book of Hebrews shares a cloud of witnesses from the Old Testament who paved the way for our redemption with their lives.

While many received victories in this life but —

“others were tortured, not accepting deliverance;

that they might obtain a better resurrection:

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings,

yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder,

were tempted, were slain with the sword:

They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;

being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

(Of whom the world was not worthy:)”

Hebrews 11: 35-38, KJV

The Old Testament saints looked forward to the promises of Messiah. Their witness works for us who view Christ from this side of the cross. They are our encouragement to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,”.

They are our “great cloud of witnesses,” who cheer us on to—

“lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12: 1, KJV

My brother-in-law flew a helicopter in Viet Nam. His task included clearing the way for the medical copter. He drew enemy fire and went down making the way for those behind him.

Many have gone before us as soldiers of the cross. They endured enemy fire and persecution, even to death. We honor them and the Lord who is our Commander,

when we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God,

we stand firm in the faith clothed in Jesus Christ,

and persevere until the victory is realized,

and we rise with them to meet the Lord.

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,

in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

And shall come forth;

they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;

and they that  have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Matthew 5: 28-29, KJV

Today, remember the fallen, the sacrifices made, and honor them by making their loss not in vain.

Jesus was one of the fallen.

He took on our enemy in his flesh and gave his blood for our freedom from sin’s penalty, power, and eventually presence.

He cleared the way for us to enter the throne room of the Father and spend eternity with him.

Is he asking too much when he says,

“If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Matthew 16: 24, KJV

I’ve heard the greatest form of honor comes when we imitate another.

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”

Ephesians 5:1, KJV

How will you honor those who have sacrificed on our behalf?