A Day of Remembrance

"I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2023 will occur on Monday, May 29.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

I can remember as a child, Memorial Day was referred to as Decoration Day. All the older generation would gather at the cemeteries and patriotic flowers would be placed on the grave stones of fallen soldiers.

Over 41 million Americans have defended the United States, with over 1.3 million men and women making the ultimate sacrifice - roughly the population of the state of Maine. While I never served in the military, my grandpa, great uncles, cousins, and close friends have. In hearing their stories, one thing is clear. Their service was also tied with their faith. They knew of the sacrifice Jesus made for them, and they were willing to sacrifice so that we, and others, could keep and enjoy freedom. Seeing the needs of others as more than the needs of self, they were willing to die for complete strangers.

Romans 5:7 ESV

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

If I could make this same parallel, we have a Savior who looked at us - lost, in need, and unable to do things for themselves and said I will volunteer to serve them even when it means I will have to lay down my life for them.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we remember the fallen soldiers today, let us also remember the Savior who willingly gave His life for us so that we could be saved.

What We Remember

John 2:22 ESV

22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

What do we remember? The basic rule is that events and information with significance are remembered. In John 2, Jesus has just come from the wedding of Cana where he turned water in the wine, the first documented miracle. From there he traveled with his mother and brothers to Capernaum and spent time with them. Afterwards, nearing the time of Passover He drove the dishonest money changers out of the temple and was asked by the Jews what signs he could show them. He responded with “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. While the Jews did not understand what He meant, and laughed saying it had taken them 46 years to build the current temple, HOW could anyone rebuild it in three days. But verse 22 tells us of something that had importance. The resurrection. As a result, the DISCIPLES remembered what He had said and it confirmed their belief in scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

Jesus wanted them to remember the most important things - that He would be raised, resurrected! The power of God would not allow His Son to remain in death. As Christians, we too have the promise of a resurrection, that we do not have to remain in death! This doesn’t mean we will not face a physical death. We all will, unless the rapture takes us first. But, it does mean we will be reunited with our Heavenly Father if we have believed in His Son Jesus Christ, as our Savior.

Why We Remember

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Memory serves many purposes, from allowing us to revisit and learn from past experiences to storing knowledge about the world and how things work.

Being involved with military funerals in which an honor guard paid respect to the fallen comrade has made me reflect on these thoughts. Even though they may not have served together, may have been in different branches, or different ranks, or different specialty there is still a bond. One of brotherhood, of similar service, an understanding of the sacrifice. In looking back at Romans 5:7, Paul says RARELY would someone die for a righteous (someone in a right relationship with God). Meaning, we would have a hard time dying for someone because we are still in a sinful world and a sinful body with sinful thoughts and actions. Even if we had the capacity to be good, it would still be hard to willingly die for someone else. But, a soldier has an unbelievable love for others. They leave their family, their familiar home and surroundings, and are willing to die for someone else they may not even know.

Yet, Jesus died for us. The ungodly. The unlovable. Sinners. BUT For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son what whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This is a wonderful example of agape love - a deep love that is a sacrificial love, a love that gives itself without expecting anything in return.

Did we deserve it? No, we were ungodly, self serving, inward seeking sinners - much different than the lifestyle God has planned for us.

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ died as our sacrifice, paying the price for our sin, once and for all.

1 Corinthians 5:7b (ESV)

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The type of love shown by Jesus is amazingly unbelievable. Not that we can’t understand it , but that we can’t truly comprehend it. He sacrificed His own life so MY LIFE could be saved. Very few people would ever sacrifice in this way. But Jesus died NOT for the righteous, godly, good or pure but instead for the ungodly and those without strength. He freely gave of Himself so that He could prove His love for us.

How We Remember?

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

After memories are stored in the brain, they must be retrieved in order to be useful. While we may or may not be consciously aware that information is being summoned from storage at any given moment, this stage of memory is constantly unfolding—and the very act of remembering changes how memories are subsequently filed away.

How can we be sure we are saved? Have you ever wondered? Because of our brain knowledge? Or is there a heart storage. Just like a computer, we have energy through the charger or batteries. We expect our computer to contain the files we have stored there. Right? Do we become upset when we can’t find what we are looking for? We expect to find our file on the computer because we put it there! In contrast how do we access memories from our lives? It is filed away in our minds, and we go through the things closest to each of us cataloging in our minds.

In the Old Testament, they did not have computers, libraries, books…they had oral tradition that was passed along generation to generation. Part of the tradition passed down was the sacrifice. For sins to be forgiven in the OT, it required a blood sacrifice - form goats, sheep, and calves. What we find in verse 13 is if the blood of these animals are required to sanctify the OT believer from sin, HOW MUCH MORE would Jesus’ blood mean to God? Washing us white as snow, no blemish from sin to ever be seen again. Is that not exciting?

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus What can make me whole again?

Nothing can for sin atone Nothing but the blood of Jesus Naught of good that I have done Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow That makes me white as snow No other fount I know Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Looking at this verse, we see that the earthly sanctuary and worship only purifies the flesh. The heavenly sanctuary can even cleanse down to our conscience. But it is the believe in His Son that gives us a spiritual cleansing that is perfect. Christ was the perfect sacrifice.

But notice what the end of verse 14 says “to serve the living God”. You see, we can’t be part of a lazy religion, we are called to be active in our worship and ministry. Why? Because of the sacrifice that has been made for us. We shouldn’t forget the sacrifice Jesus made, and we should be grateful and desire a relationship.

We should never forget God loved us so much He sent His son to sacrifice Himself for us. No greater love could ever have been expressed than the love God showed to us by sacrificing His Son. By allowing Himself to be sacrificed, we see a picture of the ultimate obedience. By obediently following Him, God can and will forgive and cleanse any person will believe in His Son. Forgiveness and cleansing are guaranteed to EVERYONE who believes.

Closing

How many of us truly think/consider the sacrifices made by the American Soldier? Away from home, no home cooked meals, not seeing family, not in familiar places, etc. Yet they still are willing.

Even more, how many of us think about or consider the sacrifices made by Jesus? Away from Heaven, away from His Heavenly Father, yet still providing a critical service for you and me. God proved His love to us by sending His Son to simply save sinners - and that includes me & you. What are WE willing to give to Him in return? How do WE memorialize HIM?

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