Would You Give Your Life?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

I have seen the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier many times now. Every time it moves me to tears. The solemnness and dignity of it make me proud to be an American. It is remarkable as a memorial because it is an active remembrance. Monuments, no matter how elaborate, cannot measure up to a soldier standing guard day and night no matter the circumstances or weather in solemn tribute to those who gave their lives in service for their country.

It is the Tomb of the Unknown. Many, many of the names of those who gave their lives for our freedoms have been forgotten now. They have faded into history as even their descendants no longer know them. Many others were too young to have had descendants. They were the lost brothers and sisters whose lives ended almost before they started. They are now forgotten names from wars fought long ago. I am so glad that somehow, some way, we remember.

We observed the Lord’s Table yesterday. In the same way, Jesus instituted for us an active memorial. It is being repeated in multiple languages and cultures almost perpetually around the world until Jesus comes again. It is our lesson. We must remember—take the time to think, appreciate, and be thankful.

Those who sacrificed their lives in service or our country died fighting in one form or another. They did not enter military service planning to die—even though they were willing to if necessary. Jesus is different. His whole purpose in taking on human flesh was to die. It was the divine plan from the foundation of the world. It is His ultimate expression of love for us.

There is another lesson for this day. It is found in John 15:2—the immediately preceding verse to the one quoted above. In it, Jesus commands believers to love one another as He has loved us. Just as we must be willing to fight and die for the freedoms we have as Americans, we also must love our fellow believers in a life-sacrificing way. The love that Christ calls us to—especially in our local churches but also with believers everywhere—is deeper than we will often admit. Our love must be “dying for one another” love. We have to stand up for what is right. We have to correct one another when necessary. But in all of that, our deep sacrificial love for one another must remain. We are foolish to treat the idea of loving one another as something soft. True love is solemn, deep, reverential, and in the end, totally demanding.

The message of Memorial Day is about love. Love your country today. Love your freedoms, and love your Lord by loving one another.