How’s your memory? Generally speaking we human animals are prone to forget, especially as we begin to add the number of years to our age. Memory is a precious gift. The scourge of Alzheimer’s disease is that it robs people of their memories of people, places, things and experiences. My fear is that we as Christians and as Americans are succumbing to a kind of spiritual and moral Alzheimer’s disease. It was George Santayana who profoundly wrote, “Those who forget the past are bound to repeat it.”

We celebrate the holiday of Memorial Day this weekend. Originally called Decoration Day it was a time when we as an American people remembered those who died in our nation’s service. Originating in the aftermath of our Civil War, General John Logan officially proclaimed May 5, 1868 as the day to remember those, both Union and Confederate, who died by decorating their graves at Arlington Cemetery with flowers.

The Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS New York is being built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. The ship’s motto is “Never Forget.” This is not about bearing a grudge, but rather not forgetting the cost and sacrifice of freedom. Freedom certainly isn’t free. People died so that we could live in the most unique nation this world has ever seen, and to oppose tyranny and defend the helpless and oppressed. The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 saw 6,695 die. The Civil War saw 620,000 young men from North and South who died in that great conflict. WW I, the war to end all wars, was 53,402 killed in action. WW II European and South Pacific theaters saw 291,557 give their lives, 2 of which were baseball buddies of my dad’s who died on the shores of Normandy. The Korean War had 33,741 soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice. Vietnam totaled 47, 410 deaths. The Gulf War saw 147 give their lives and the Iraqi War is over 3,431 and counting every day.

A couple years ago, my daughter Stephanie and I toured the Battlefield at Vicksburg, MS. Green rolling hills covered with trees, looking like any other green rolling hills covered with trees, except that here Grant’s army faced the Confederate army determined to save their homeland. A lot of blood was spilled and soldiers as young as 14 and 15 died that day. One of the most powerful and moving experiences of my life was to walk the sands of Normandy, trying to imagine what it must have been like for those kids; and then to walk among the white crosses on the graves reading the names of soldiers who gave their lives to defeat the scourge and evil of Nazi Germany. Make no mistake “War is hell,” but there is something worse and that is “peace at any price.” There are some things worth dying for. There are some things worth more than life itself.

The Israelites had just crowned Saul as King over all Israel. In 1 Samuel 12 Samuel was giving his farewell speech as he turned the reigns of leadership over to Saul. He reminds these ancient Israelites that freedom comes with a huge responsibility and is fraught with potential disaster. In verses 13-15 we read, “Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! But if you do not obey the Lord and if you rebel against His commands, His hand will be against you as it was against your fathers.”

The ancient Hebrews had a propensity to forget the blessings of the Lord. They often thought they could worship the Lord God of heaven and worship the idols of this world. They mistakenly believed that it was both/and and not either/or. They forgot that God is a jealous God who will not share our love and loyalty with any other god. They forgot their history of deliverance and provision. They forgot the Red Sea and the manna and water in the desert wilderness. They forgot and went off a-wandering after false gods and the lust of this world. They did not remember and paid a heavy price for their forgetfulness.

The purpose of Memorial Day is precisely to help us not forget but to remember. I never want to forget those who died to preserve our freedoms. One of the most precious is the freedom to worship as we choose. Never once in my entire life have I had any fear of walking into a church to worship the Lord. This is not the norm around the world because the vast majority of Christians attend church under government watchfulness, fearful of the attacks by mobs from other religions, or persecution for claiming the name of Jesus. This past Easter I watched a news report of Pakistani Christians on their traditional Easter parade through the streets being protected by armed Pakistani soldiers.

Our flag stands as a symbol of the political and religious freedoms we cherish as Americans. We also have another flag in our sanctuary. It is the Christian flag. It is the only free flag in the entire world and is different from every other flag, religious or secular, ancient or modern. The Christian flag is independent, uncontrolled, and universal. Unlike national flags, this flag has no earthly bonds or allegiances. Christ and Christ alone is its Master. The Christian flag represents people regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, tribe, economic condition, affluence or poverty, politics, freedom or slavery. It cannot be constricted by any nation and for the Christian stands above every national and political flag because our allegiance to Jesus supercedes even our allegiance to the USA. The Christian flag, and the Savior for which it stands, belongs to all and owned by no one. The white color represents purity and peace. The blue stands for faithfulness, truth, and sincerity. The red on the cross stands for the blood of Jesus, the great sacrifice of the Shepherd for the sheep.

What a beautiful picture when the American flag and the Christian flag can stand together as one. Then we as a nation are and will be blessed; and we will prosper by God’s almighty hand. But if we forget and the American flag begins to represent something other than Christian virtue and values, then ‘Woe to us! Sodom and Gomorrah will fare better under God’s hand of judgment than we will.’

While I have serious concerns and fears about the direction away from the things of our God that we as a nation seem to be headed, I am hearten as we face a new and evil enemy by those who have so recently given their lives for you and me.

Let share just two with you this morning. Captain Joshua Byers, son of missionaries, a West Point grad and commander of a 120-man combat unit in Iraq wrote this to his mom and dad, “I will give the men everything I have to give. I love them already, just because they are mine. I pray, with all my heart, that I will be able to take every single one of them home safe when we finish our mission.” Joshua Byers came home in a flagged-draped coffin.

Captain Russell Rippetoe, Army Ranger, had earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart and gave his life for freedom. His dog tags were imprinted with these words from the book of Joshua, “Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord Thy God is with thee.”

The American flag stands for freedom in this life bought by the blood of those soldiers who sacrificed their lives that we honor this Memorial Day. The Christian flag stands for our freedom both now and for eternity bought by the blood of Jesus who gave His life for us.

In ancient Israel Samuel closed his admonition to the Hebrew people with these words, (verses 23,24) “As for me be it far from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.”

During WW II Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchhill, called upon the British to unite in prayer each night at 9:00pm for the war effort and their nation. There is a movement today to encourage Americans, each night at 9:00pm to pray for our soldiers and for our nation.

As you cookout, gather with family and friends, go to the shore, set up your pools, and enjoy a day off from work, remember those who died so that we can live in freedom, and remember to thank God for the freedom He gives.

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.