WHO WILL PICK UP THE BANNER?

Psalm 60:4 KJV

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

In the old days of battle, especially during the Civil War, the color bearer had one of the most dangerous jobs on the field.

He was the man carrying the flag. In the smoke, confusion, noise, and chaos of battle, soldiers looked for the colors. The flag told them where to rally. It told them where the line was. It told them the fight was not over.

But because the flag was so important, the man who carried it became a target. The American Battlefield Trust notes that soldiers carrying the colors were “automatic targets” because the enemy wanted the flag to fall and the troops to become confused. Yet when one color bearer fell, another man often stepped forward to lift the flag again. (American Battlefield Trust)

One powerful example is Sergeant William H. Carney of the 54th Massachusetts. During the assault on Fort Wagner in 1863, when the flag bearer fell, Carney picked up the flag, carried it forward, was wounded several times, and still brought the flag back. When he reached friendly lines, the National Park Service records that he cried, “Boys, I did but my duty; the dear old flag never touched the ground!” (National Park Service)

That is powerful.

But today I want to ask a spiritual question: When the color bearer falls, who will pick up the banner?

When the old saints are gone, who will keep praying? When the old preachers are gone, who will keep preaching? When the old soldiers of the faith are gone, who will keep standing? When the culture grows darker, who will still lift up the truth of God?

Psalm 60:4 says, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth.”

On this July 4th season, we thank God for America. We thank God for liberty. We thank God for those who sacrificed. But we must remember this: the American flag is worth honoring, but the banner of truth is worth carrying.

I. THE BANNER MUST BE LIFTED

Psalm 60:4 — “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee…”

A banner was a rallying point.

It gave direction in confusion.

It gave courage in battle.

It told the army where to stand.

Church, God has given us a banner.

That banner is truth.

That banner is the gospel.

That banner is the cross of Jesus Christ.

America’s founders understood that freedom had to be rooted in something higher than human government.

The Declaration of Independence says men are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” It also closes with “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” (National Archives)

They did not believe rights came merely from the king.

They did not believe liberty was only a political invention.

They recognized that there is a God above government.

Now, we should not say every founder was the same in doctrine. They were not. Some were more orthodox than others. Some spoke more generally of Providence. But the founding generation understood something our generation must not forget: if liberty is cut loose from God, liberty will eventually destroy itself.

Proverbs 14:34 KJV

Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.

That means righteousness lifts a nation. Sin lowers a nation. Righteousness builds. Sin breaks. Righteousness strengthens. Sin weakens.

If the banner of truth falls, confusion follows. If the banner of righteousness falls, corruption follows. If the banner of the gospel falls, souls perish.

So the banner must be lifted.

II. THE BATTLE MUST BE FACED

2 Timothy 2:3 — “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

The color bearer did not carry the flag on a parade field only.

He carried it into battle.

He carried it when bullets were flying.

He carried it when smoke filled the air.

He carried it when the enemy wanted him down.

That is where we are today. We are not living in a day when biblical truth is popular. We are not living in a day when righteousness is celebrated. We are not living in a day when the cross is loved by the world.

But we are still called to carry the banner.

George Washington warned in his Farewell Address that “religion and morality are indispensable supports” of political prosperity, and he said reason and experience do not allow us to expect national morality to continue apart from religious principle. (Avalon Project)

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (Online Library of Liberty)

They understood something that many have forgotten: freedom requires moral character.

A nation cannot remain free if its people are enslaved to sin.

A nation cannot remain strong if its homes are falling apart.

A nation cannot remain blessed if it shakes its fist at God.

A nation cannot remain righteous if the church loses her voice.

The battle before us is not merely political. It is spiritual.

We wrestle with sin. We wrestle with compromise. We wrestle with prayerlessness. We wrestle with worldliness. We wrestle with fear. We wrestle with silence.

And when the battle gets hot, we need people who will not drop the banner.

The old song said, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.” That is still the call.

Stand when others sit. Speak when others are silent. Pray when others panic. Preach when others compromise. Believe when others doubt. Lift the banner when others let it fall.

III. THE BURDEN MUST BE CARRIED

Psalm 60:4 — “That it may be displayed because of the truth.”

God does not give us the banner so we can hide it. He gives it so it may be displayed.

The tragedy would not only be that a color bearer fell.

The tragedy would be if nobody picked up the flag after he fell.

That is the burden of this generation.

Our grandparents carried the banner. Faithful pastors carried the banner. Praying mothers carried the banner. Sunday school teachers carried the banner. Missionaries carried the banner. Old-time saints carried the banner.

But many of them have gone on to Heaven. Many have finished their race. Many have left the battlefield.

So now the question is: Who will pick it up?

Benjamin Franklin, during the Constitutional Convention, called for prayer, asking that the assembly seek “the assistance of Heaven” and God’s blessing on their deliberations.

If those men knew they needed Heaven’s assistance to form a nation, how much more do we need God’s help to preserve truth in this generation?

We need fathers who will pick up the banner. We need mothers who will pick up the banner. We need young people who will pick up the banner. We need churches that will pick up the banner. We need preachers who will pick up the banner.

Not the banner of anger. Not the banner of pride. Not the banner of political worship. Not the banner of hatred. But the banner of truth, grace, holiness, prayer, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The church’s highest banner is not red, white, and blue. It is stained crimson with the blood of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Sergeant Carney said, “The dear old flag never touched the ground.”

What a testimony.

But I wonder, could that be said of us spiritually?

Will the banner of truth touch the ground in our generation? Will the gospel be dropped on our watch? Will prayer be abandoned in our homes? Will holiness be surrendered in our churches? Will the cross be hidden because we were afraid?

On July 4th, we celebrate freedom. But the greatest freedom is not political freedom. It is spiritual freedom.

John 8:36 KJV

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The flag reminds us freedom has a price. The cross reminds us salvation has been paid in full.

The flag reminds us soldiers died for a country. The cross reminds us the Savior died for sinners.

The flag reminds us America was worth defending. The cross reminds us souls are worth redeeming.

So thank God for America.

Thank God for liberty.

Thank God for the men and women who carried the flag.

But above all, thank God for Jesus Christ, who carried the cross.

And may God raise up a generation that says:

The banner will not fall in my home. The banner will not fall in my church. The banner will not fall in my pulpit. The banner will not fall in my generation.

By the grace of God, we will pick it up. We will carry it forward. We will display it because of the truth.