Good Memorial Day!

I said “good” instead of “happy”, since it seemed wrong to call Memorial Day happy. We are remembering those who gave their lives in order for us to enjoy our freedom. The survivors would not consider the day happy because they are reminded of the loss of their loved ones…

Good Friday has the same connotation. It is “good” to us, since without it, there would be no salvation for us. But it was terrible for God since that’s the day that His Son was killed on the cross.

The life that we enjoy now and the eternal life we will enjoy in the afterlife are not without cost. They both costed lives. The earthly freedom we enjoy costed many young soldiers’ lives. And the eternal freedom we will enjoy costed the life of the Son of God. We are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices that others have made. Our life is owed. We must take our lives seriously since it is not our own…

In the movie, Saving Private Ryan, in his dying breath, Captain Miller grabs Private Ryan by the collar and says, “Earn this. Earn this!” What he meant is he wanted Ryan to live his life worthy of the lives of many men including himself that were sacrificed to save his. It would be a terrible waste if Ryan had lived licentiously and unworthily.

We dare not take the approach of “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Cor. 15:32. But we strive to live our lives worthy of the One who gave Himself for us. (Colossians 1:10)

PH