Memorial Day 2017

Hope on Memorial Day

Today is a day we set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country (in service to us), and also a memorial to those loved ones whom we have lost - namely, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, other family members and friends. We set aside today to honor their lives - so as to not forget them. We recognize that human life is inherently valuable no matter how short, it’s the sanctity of life that binds us together, in fact, it’s the reason Memorial Day finds reason to exist.

Memorial Day also stands as a sober reminder that death is very real for all of us (it’s inescapable), and a reminder that something has gone very wrong. All of us intrinsically know that death isn’t natural (even though entire worldviews have been built to argue that it is), we all, at some level, realize that death is a foreigner - an intruder.

Memorial Day stands

God teaches us that death is the direct consequence of our sin, a direct consequence of our rebellion against his holy and righteous character. The death of a loved one and even the sicknesses that befall all of us here today are ultimately the direct result of our sin. When our lives are held up to God’s holy standards we are all found guilty (myself included), before him we are shown for who we really are, liars, thieves, fornicators, adulterers at heart. In fact, God’s Word says this,

“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” ()

These are incredibly unpopular words in our day. It’s why the writer says on the outset, “Do not be deceived” because we are inclined to think otherwise, that God will not actually follow-through with this judgement, that somehow on judgement day he might turn a blind eye to our sin, but this just isn’t the case, God is holy and a righteous judge, and a righteous judge doesn’t let criminals go unpunished.

This is without a doubt a shocking and repugnant indictment against us, a people who by nature love their sin, but thanks be to God that the story doesn’t end there. 2,000 years ago God sent his only begotten, divine Son into this world to atone, or to pay for, the sins of his people. This Son was made in every way like us yet overcame sin, his life remained unstained by it, he was wholly righteous, yet he suffered death at the hands of wicked men.

He was both truly man and truly God and it would be his perfect life that would fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. It would be upon his back that God’s just wrath toward sinners would be poured out. He would become the substitute for all those who would turn from their sin and put their trust in him alone, and by our faith in God’s Son we are clothed in his righteousness, and stand just in God’s sight.

This Jesus not only died on behalf of his people, but because of his righteousness, death could not hold him, he rose from the dead only three days later, and for those who have, and who will turn from their sin and put their trust in him they will share in this hope of resurrection.

So while a day like today is by it’s very nature a somber day, may we find hope in the good news of God’s Son. While eternal punishment awaits those who harden their hearts against God, eternal life awaits those who embrace and trust in God’s Son.

Amen.