Old Soldiers Never Die... They Just Faded Away

SLIDE: Honoring Our Veterans

Read:

At 5:00 in the morning on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France, the Armistice was signed which ended WW1. This day was first known as Armistice Day. Later it was changed to Veterans day. It is a day that has been set aside to honor ALL VETERANS, both living and dead who have served in the military of the United States of America.

These men and women are my heroes. I’m serious. I’m not just saying this to make a point. They all sacrificed their time, their own wants, and some even their health to serve the United States of America. By serving the United States of America, they served you and I. ALL GAVE SOME AND SOME GAVE ALL!!! I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH ONE OF THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE FOR YOU AND I.

It has been said and it is so true today...

It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

Our church has just a small memento to give each one of our VETERANS and it is our HONOR and PRIVILEGE to present these to each one of them today.

Cue Eugene to play organ

Honor each branch (have some ladies pass out the mementos during recognition)

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Have Veterans share a little advise for someone considering joining one of US Military branches.

Share Dad's experience Mention singing “Old Soldier Never Die… They Just Fade Away”

SLIDE: Scripture 2 Timothy 2:1-4

2 Timothy 2:1–4 (NLT)

1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting [or commanding] officer.

The definition of a VETERAN when it comes to these men and women who have stood before you today is:

a person who has served in the military.

This passage of scripture in 2 Timothy 2 that we just read today was written by a man who was a VETERAN in the Army of the Lord. The Apostle Paul had fought many battles. These battles had been fought for the Lord Jesus Christ. He, no doubt, bore the scars from these fights. He had been beaten, whipped and stoned throughout his years of service.

You see, another definiton of VETERAN is:

a person who has had long experience in a particular field.

1. Paul tells Timothy to BE STRONG...

2 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)

1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

Paul dosen’ t mean physical strength Boot camp is meant to strengthen both physically and mentally.

Paul dosen’ t mean academic strength To move up in the ranks of the military you have to be educated. i.e.: Dad’s Officers Candidate School (OCS)

Paul tells Timothy here to be STRONG in what? In the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus. GRACE IS THE UNMERITED FAVOR OF GOD. God’s GRACE, HIS UNMERITED FAVOR is with us throughout every stage of life.

Throughout every BATTLE that we face.

Throughout every TRIAL that comes along.

Throughout every TEMPTATION that crosses our path.

God’s GRACE is there for the asking.

JUST LIKE EVERY SOLDIER NEEDS THE BACKING AND THE SUPPORT OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WE AS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD HAVE THE BACKING OF THE GOD WHO CREATED THIS UNIVERSE.

2. Paul tells Timothy to COMMIT...

Now COMMIT can mean several things but the way Paul uses it here means:

To give over (something) to another for care, protection, or performance:

To give as a trust to someone.

We just honored the Heroes who serves us and our country.

As I look around us today, is see another kind of heroes present — Heroes of the Faith:

They weren’t necessarily strong or educated but they PASSED ON GOD’S GRACE to me and others. THAT’S WHAT A GOOD SOLDIER OF THE CROSS DOES.

3. Paul tells Timothy to ENDURE...

2 Timothy 2:3 (NLT)

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Military life can be really hard. I bet if I was to ask some of these VETERANS setting here today, “What is the hardest thing you have ever done, they would say, serving in the military.”

Some United States veterans spent days without food and water.

Some were captured and tortured.

Some faced hand-to-hand combat.

But through it all

they ENDURED,

they OVERCAME,

they WON.

They were VICTORIOUS.

We as soldiers of the Cross may be called upon to ENDURE HARDSHIPS just as many have in the past. Of all the DISCIPLES, John was the only one to die a natural death. He still faced great persecution and was exiled on the Island of Patmos.

Missionaries even today face GREAT HARDSHIPS on the MISSION FIELD.

Joe Scriven was a missionary from Ireland to Canada, working among the Iroquois Indians. He was joined by his fiancé who was also from Ireland. Just before the wedding, she was killed in an ice accident. Joe buried her with his own hands, and a broken heart. A year later, in a letter to his mother, he reflected,

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer." Joe was on the road to triumph, even though there were times when the road was rough.

4. Paul tells Timothy to STAY FOCUSED...

2 Timothy 2:4 (NLT)

4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life...

Do you get what he’s saying here? STAY FOCUSED. Keep your eyes straight ahead and don’t let things DISTRACT YOU.

I love what Paul tells the Church at Philippi in Philippians 3:14-17

Philippians 3:14–17 (NLT)

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. 17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Verse 14 is a familiar scripture to all of us. Paul says that he himself presses toward the mark for the PRIZE of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. He keeps his eye on the GOAL.

I believe this has got to be one of the best pieces of advice that Paul gives to you and I today.

Just as a soldier in the ARMY of the United States of America MUST be on guard against those things that would DISTRACT him or her from doing their JOB, their DUTY.

We as Christians MUST be on GUARD against those things that might come up to distract us from our JOB, our DUTY to our Commander and Chief.

OUR ENEMY, the devil is a MASTER at bringing up things in our life to get our eyes off the goal.

In Chapter 4 of this same book, Paul is all alone in prison. He is getting ready to face the executioners block. In his time of GREATEST NEED he has only Luke there with him. Verse 10 is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. Envision this with me: There hungry, cold, preparing for death and this is what it says:

2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT)

10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life...

Paul says to not let the things of the world entangle you. Stay focused. Don’t be like Demas.

4. Last Paul tells us THE GOAL...

TO PLEASE THE COMMANDER...

2 Timothy 2:4 (NRSV)

4 ...the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting [or commanding] officer.

There are several men and women here today that have raised their right hand and sworn this oath.

“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."

There is only ONE SUPREME COMMANDER over all branches of the United States Military. It is the President of the United States. Every single soldier from the highest ranking enlisted man to the highest ranking officer has sworn an oath to obey his orders. Man, at times, that has to be hard. But it’s part of being in the military of the United States of America.

In the U.S. the PRESIDENT is the one in charge. The PRESIDENT is the SUPREME COMMANDER.

We recently voted for our next Supreme Commander. It is no doubt one of the most important elections of our lifetime. And one of the reasons among many is the fact that the PRESIDENT is in charge of our military.

Paul tells Timothy here to do all of the things we just talked about:

1. Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2. Commit the Gospel to others.

3. Endure Hardness.

4. And stay focused.

But the main thing to focus on is: WHY?

So that we may please the one who has called us.

Who has called us?

The Supreme Creator of this universe.

God is the Commander-and-Chief.

Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

You have been called into the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. It tells us in John 12:32 that He is drawing all people to Him.

Now you have a choice to make.

What will you do with that call?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 says this:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT)

13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

As you sit here today you have been called into the Army of the Lord. And it is your duty to obey the Commander.

Let me ask you,

Are you strong in the Grace that is found in Christ?

Are you committing the Gospel to others?

Are you enduring hardness or are you in retreat mode?

Are you staying FOCUSED on what is really important?

Finally, are you answering the Call of the Lord Jesus Christ? Whose side are you on?

ILLUSTRATION:

During the US civil war Abraham Lincoln was the Commander-in-Chief of the Union Forces. It was a great burden knowing that his orders would put many lives at jeopardy. One morning he met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. The different ministers spoke about the different needs that they must pray for and one of them said, “Mr President, let us pray that God is on our side.” Lincoln’s response showed far greater insight, “No, gentlemen, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

ILLUSTRATION:

In 1951, the Old Veteran Soldier, General Douglas MacArthur, gave a speech to a joint session of congress. He closed the speech by saying “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

I thought about that Old Battle Hardened Soldier of the Cross, the Apostle Paul, there in that Roman cell. HE DID DIE. But 2000 years later his words have NOT faded away. They are just as powerful today as they were when he said…

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

SLIDE: Let’s Pray