Memorial Day

 This is Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day means a lot of different things to different people. Some see it just as an opportunity for a long weekend. And some will see it as an opportunity to pause and reflect, to remember those who have died to secure our future. The background for the slides this morning is the "Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge".

Many have sacrificed their lives over the course of our national history to preserve our freedoms. Those lives were given because there was a strong belief that those freedoms were worth dying for. Some of your family members and relatives have given their lives to preserve the principles upon which this nation was founded.

And we do need to acknowledge that we have those freedoms only because God has allowed us to have them. They've been achieved because the principles and ideas that secured them were consistent with God's purposes. Our nation's first leaders understood that our founding principles were based on an understanding of God's Word and God's blessing. They established a rule of law, a constitution and a form of government based on their desire to be a Christian nation.

I believe the reason that some today deny America's heritage as a Christian nation is because they've chosen to forget. Today, we choose to remember. And tomorrow, we remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. Tomorrow…

I. We honor selflessness

And we honor those individuals for a reason. They gave up their lives for others. I'd like to share this short video clip, I've used it in the past but it's well worth watching again…

***Video "Memorial Day Tribute - Thank you"

God established many memorials throughout the Bible. He used days and places and objects to remind us of things and events that He deemed essential for us to remember. I do want to acknowledge a reality here - not every one of those service men and women who gave their lives were believers. Many of them were, but even if they weren't, whether they understood it or not – they were following Biblical principles in their sacrifice. They were selflessly giving of themselves for others.

Think about those who gave their lives in service to their country as we read this passage from the Apostle Paul from Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)...

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

I can't imagine that any of those who gave their lives were doing it for selfish reasons. They didn't go into battle for their own safety. Those we honor on Memorial Day humbly gave their lives to secure safety and freedom for others – for us, and our children and grandchildren; for many people they would never even meet. And those we honor on Memorial Day were not necessarily men and women of extraordinary ability or talent but men and women of extraordinary selflessness.

What we celebrate now as "Memorial Day" started with the tradition known as "Decoration Day". And in doing some reading, I found an account of one of the earliest commemorations on record.

(***SLIDE – "Racetrack Club House") As the Civil War neared its end, thousands of Union soldiers, held as prisoners of war, were herded into camps in Charleston, South Carolina. One camp was a repurposed racetrack, and conditions were so poor that more than 250 prisoners died from disease or exposure, and they were buried in a mass grave behind the track's grandstand.

Three weeks after the Confederate surrender, an unusual procession entered the former camp: On May 1st, 1865, thousands of recently freed slaves, accompanied by regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops, followed by contingents of Union infantry and other black and white citizens gathered together in the camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead.

(***SLIDE – "Children's Choir") A children's' choir sang 'We'll Rally around the Flag,' the 'Star-Spangled Banner,' and several spiritual songs. The group sang hymns together, preachers spoke and gave readings and they distributed flowers around the cemetery, which they dedicated to the "Martyrs of the Racecourse." (***SLIDE – "Martyrs of the Racecourse")

They honored those who fought and died to secure freedom for all men and women. - As long as there is sin in this world, people will continue to be called to sacrifice for their country. And we can't forget that the call to 'selflessness' is first a Biblical call. That call applies to the Church. That call applies to those who've chosen to follow Jesus.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

We honor those who have sacrificed for their country, and…

II. We are called to sacrifice

It's easy to forget as we enjoy the religious freedoms that have been secured for us, that Christians aren't simply called to live for themselves. For many in America, following Jesus has been 'boiled down' to nothing more than attending a Church service a few times a month and calling it good. That's not the calling that we have received.

Back in the Old Testament, we understand that God's people were called to make sacrifices. And those sacrifices were burnt offerings – bulls, sheep, rams, goats. But when the new covenant was instituted – after Jesus made His ultimate sacrifice as the perfect Lamb of God – the sacrifice that God required from His people changed. Paul reminds us, in Romans 12:1 (NIV)...

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.

God doesn't just want offerings – He wants you. He wants your life. God wants all of you – but He also gives back so much more than we can possibly give Him!

As a congregation, we understand this concept of sacrifice. Think of the finances and thousands of hours given over the years to build this building, to support the missions we've helped support, to do the ministry that's been done over the many decades! All of that teaching and ministry was only accomplished through sacrifice.

Those who've been Christians for a long time understand that the Church is not just for them. We're called to sacrifice for others. I read a quote that said, "Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing." The fact that this congregation has a history of over a hundred years didn't just happen by accident. It's a result of sacrifice - and we are the recipients of the blessings that resulted from that sacrifice. And…

A. Sacrifice requires love

In order for us to answer the call that we've been given, it requires great love. Deep River exists today for you, and for me, and for our kids and grandkids, and this community, in part, because of the great love for God's Church that was demonstrated by those who came before us!

I've performed funeral services for many of the Senior Saints who served at Deep River over the years. A while back I was thumbing through some old picture albums from years ago and I came across this picture...

(***SLIDE - "Velda Poer") This is Velda Poer at her 80th Birthday party sitting under the picnic shelter just out here back in 1995, around a decade before I got here. Some of you may have been around long enough to remember Velda. She was a part of Deep River here before her passing. And she was also my wife's Grandmother. Years ago there's no way she could ever have imagined that 30 years later six of her great grandchildren would be learning about Jesus here?

Jesus told His disciples…

John 15:12-14 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command.

Are you willing to show love to your neighbors, and friends, and co-workers, and family by bringing them to Jesus? Are you willing to literally 'lay down your life', out of love, in order for others to learn about the saving love of Jesus? What are you willing to sacrifice? - What is it that you maybe aren't willing to 'let go' for the sake of others knowing Jesus..?

Look at the last part of that passage, "You are my friends if you do what I command." It's a conditional statement. Jesus calls us to reach the lost, to make disciples. – What might we have to personally sacrifice in order to do that? Those here who've fallen in love with Jesus don't really even look at it as sacrifice anymore – it's just what they do.

Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (10) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Tomorrow, we honor our fallen soldiers and their families. Today, we also honor those who are devoted to one another in love. The sacrifice to which a Christian is called requires love - and…

B. Sacrifice requires humility

It's an attitude that doesn't seek its own desires, but puts them on the 'back burner' out of love for others. That's not popular in today's culture. From the very young to the very old – many are most concerned with their rights and desires. That's not the way it's supposed to be for those who follow Jesus. Paul's words again from Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)...

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (2) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (3) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

And unity among people doesn't simply happen as a matter of fact. Unity among people; unity in the Church, only happens when 'those who demonstrate love' humble themselves and sacrifice and bear with one another.

And notice, Paul isn't calling us to compromise the Gospel message. He isn't calling us to lovingly surrender core Biblical beliefs. He isn't calling us to humbly 'water down' God's Word for the sake of unity with the world. He's calling us to humbly show such love to each other that the world can't help but notice the stark difference between those in the Church and those outside of the Church. And there should be a difference.

He's calling us to sacrifice for each other, ultimately for the sake of His Kingdom! We're not called to sacrifice the truth – but our own desires in order to love others and to build up God's Kingdom. God asks those who are strong in the faith to sacrifice for those who are weak.

Jesus Himself said that He came for the lost. He gave up the splendor of Heaven to come down to earth in the form of a man to save the lost; to save us. Was it fair that Jesus had to give up so much for us? Nope. But if we're going to become more like Jesus – we need to follow His example of sacrifice. But I need to be perfectly frank here…

C. Sacrifice is not easy

It's hard! Having to sacrifice for those we may not have even met is hard! But isn't that exactly what those who've given their lives in service to their country have done? And because sacrifice is hard – that's why we honor those who excel in sacrificial giving.

Those who faithfully serve Jesus don't ever retire from the faith. Their roles change over the years, but they still serve. And we have many examples of servants like that around us. They're the servants who don't 'rust out', but eventually 'wear out' from years of giving their all in service to others. Personal sacrifice is hard – but it's what we are called to.

Have you ever noticed that it's sometimes easy to identify a problem, but it's harder to personally do something about it. It's relatively easy to tell someone else what they should do. But it's harder to sacrifice and do something about the needs of others. Those people who step up and take action – those individuals deserve honor because sacrifice is hard. We find this in Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV)...

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. (17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The sacrifice that God desires is that which costs you everything! He wants you! He wants your heart! The sacrifice that God is asking for is extremely difficult, but when you can humble yourself and do that – you have the promise of Heaven!

So What?

We are called to remember - in order to shape who we are, what we do and who we become.

The author of the song "Amazing Grace", John Newton, had a rather 'checkered past' before he became a preacher and hymn writer. As a young man he was pressed into service in the Royal Navy but because of his behavior he was flogged and demoted. He left and for years earned his living as a slave trader on various ships carrying slaves across the Pacific. That was before He met Jesus. After becoming spiritually convicted, he eventually became a preacher and worked to abolish Britain's slave trade.

Near the end of his life, a friend asked about his health and failing memory. He replied, " My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things: I am a great sinner and I have a great Savior; and I don't suppose an old slave trader needs to remember much more than that."

He didn't focus on his many accomplishments later in life, but on the grace given to him by his Savior. We are called to remember that same grace.

I encourage you tomorrow to remember and honor our nation's fallen. Thank God for their sacrifice and remember - in order to shape who we are, what we do and who we become.