Remembering and Honoring the Great Hero
Over Memorial Day weekend in May my family and I made our second trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Visiting Gettysburg during that particular holiday weekend is especially rewarding, as it allows one to fellowship with thousands of other Americans who are gathered to remember and honor the great and valiant men who fought and died on those fields.
As a Pennsylvania resident, I live within easy traveling distance of not only Gettysburg but also a number of other historic military sites. Every morning on my way to work I get to travel through Washington's Crossing State Park. Not a day goes by that I don't consider the importance of this spot in our national history. As I cross the rickety bridge from Pennsylvania into New Jersey, I look out over the Delaware River and try to imagine the valor of the men who helped make the spot famous. It was here on the night of December 25, 1776, that General George Washington executed one of the most brilliant military moves in our nation's history, consequently turning the tide of the Revolutionary War. Washington's men were cold, hungry, and exhausted. A few soldiers had even passsed away the night before, succombing to the extreme winter-weather conditions and the effects of disease and illness. Nevertheless, Washington and his men crossed the icy Delaware River in the middle of the night, and on the morning of December 26 they surprised the Hessian troops who were stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessians were assassins hired by the British--fierce soldiers with frightening reputations. Washington knew that an early-morning attack would catch the Hessians off guard: he knew they would be groggy and suffering from hangovers because of the Christmas celebration the day before.
Washington was right. His men routed the Hessians without losing a soldier. The victory, which was the first for the Americans in a long, long time, rejuvenated the soldiers and rekindled a hope that had almost died. A little hope was all they needed. The rest is history.
Every Christmas day, re-enactors act out "the crossing" for thousands of patriotic onlookers. People love to remember and honor General Washington and his brave men, some of whom died the night before the famous river crossing so that we could enjoy freedom today.
Americans are good at remembering and honoring people who have given their lives for the sake of others. In their names, we observe holidays, erect statues, and build memorials throughout the country. As human beings we inherently recognize the truth in Jesus' words when he said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). That's why we're so keen on remembering and honoring those who have given their lives for others. We recognize the depth of their selflessness and love.
And yet...
And yet some of the people who so adamantly remember and honor deceased war heroes live their entire lives without recognizing the heroism of Jesus Christ. Regretfully, I must admit that even I have sometimes allowed myself to become more emotional over the death of American hereos than the death and resurrection of the great world hero, Jesus the Messiah. In no way do I want to minimize the sacrifices of our national heroes--we need to remember and honor them. But how much more should we remember and honor Jesus Christ!
Perhaps we have a twisted notion that the effects of our national heroes' actions are more tangible, more immediate. After all, our freedom is very real. Our solid economy is something we enjoy on a day-to-day basis. No matter what one thinks about the present state of our economy, it's still the best in the world, and our valiant military is partly responsible for protecting it. We can all find things in the present day for which we can thank the brave men and women in uniform.
But the benefits of Jesus' actions on the cross are just as immediate! We must not forget that Jesus' sacrificial death was not just for our benefit in eternity. What He did on the cross affects us today! By giving His life, our lives on earth are made easier. We have His Holy Spirit and the comfort that He intercedes for us when we pray. He gives us hope in the present. He walks with us.
I'm glad that Americans remember and honor their fallen heroes, and I plan to thoughtfully and thankfully consider their sacrifices during this holiday season. However, as much as I appreciate them, the way I remember and honor those who have given their lives for country and flag should pale in comparison to the way I remember and honor my Savior. We remember and honor our national heroes by observing holidays and moments of silence. As we enter "the season of gratitude," I want to remember Jesus with more of my thoughts, by calling on Him more often, by recognizing that His power and strength can conquer any problem, by studying His word more diligently, and by striving to be the type of friend to Him that He is to me.
We honor our fallen heroes by protecting the values for which they died and by not disgracing their names and their efforts. I want to honor Jesus more and more by obeying Him and sharing His love with others, so that He will not become a forgotten hero in America.
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