“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” – Romans 13:7
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. It is a time to reflect upon those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. My dad, my father-in-law, and John’s dad served their country during WWII and the Korean conflict. They came home to become husbands and fathers. So many did not. Those who died made the ultimate sacrifice for the liberties we enjoy today here and around the globe. This year, many will go to the final resting places of those who died, and in their honor, will place American flags or flowers on the graves. Sadly, some never made it home for even a burial, and are remembered only in the hearts of their surviving relatives and friends. But these are not the only ones to remember this Memorial Day.
In addition to the servicemen and women we honor this day, we must also reflect upon those whose names we will never know. Men and women who worked in classified areas of our government… those in fields that are considered “top secret”… who remained anonymous to most of the world for reasons of safety f0r themselves and their families, yet they labored for our freedoms as well. Some of these individuals have no graves for family members to visit, and they received no acknowledgment or accolades of service. We must honor these men and women as well on this Memorial Day for they also gave their lives for our country and our freedoms.
I am also reminded of another individual who gave all, so that others could live. His name is known well by most of the world although many do not honor him or even acknowledge his divine existence. His name is Jesus, and He is God’s only beloved Son, who sacrificed everything to reconcile God’s most special creation to Himself. He willingly left the glory of heaven… think of it… a place with no sorrow or pain, a place without wars or famine or disease. This is what Jesus chose to leave to come to a world filled with every conceivable sin…hatred, violence, greed, lust, pride… the list goes on and on. Philippians 2:6-8 states, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus, who had existed throughout all eternity past without an iota of sin in Him, chose to become sin for us and then pay the penalty for that sin by dying an agonizing death on a rugged Roman cross nearly 2,000 years ago. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Why? Because He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and yearns to reconcile us to God. Jesus wants a personal relationship with each one of us so much that He sacrificed Himself to make a way. When Jesus rose from the grave three days after His crucifixion, He proved He alone was the Saviour of the world; the only One with the power to forgive sins and give everlasting life to all who believe on His name! May we always remember and honor the sacrifice Jesus made for all mankind.
But on this special day set aside to remember the fallen, may our nation never forget the brave men and women who courageously gave their lives so that we could continue to be “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Let us honor Memorial Day this weekend; count our blessings; and thank God for those who gave everything for the cause of liberty and the right to be free.
He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.
Amazing love! how can it be
, that Thou, my God, should die for me!
(from “And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley)
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
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All gave some; thank God some gave all.
Thank you for sharing this reminder with us, Jayne. Some have no final resting place, no grave, were denied a proper burial, yet they deserve to be honored and remembered. But God knows who they are and keeps a record of all that is honorable.