As we enter the Memorial Day Weekend, I can't help but think of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, June 4, 1944. As D-Day has been memorialized by movies like Saving Private Ryan and the HBO series Band of Brothers, we should definitely be eternally thankful for the men who like sheep to the slaughter, sacrificed their lives on Omaha Beach. As young men of 18 years and older decided to be carnage in France 60 years ago, we in turn are able to enjoy all the conveniences and comforts of modern life.
And as young men are killed every day in Iraq, the biggest issue I had this past week was how much more memory (RAM) I was going to get for my computer and whether I should buy it at Best Buy or Office Depot. Our issues these days are about mortgage rates, PDAs, MP3 players, Laker games (are you going to watch it at Shakey's or at home? Do you have TNT?), wedding plans and day care centers. What a life we have!
I am actually not saying those conveniences are not important. The men in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and now in Iraq, paved the way for these conveniences. I would dare to say we should even enjoy these benefits with great passion so long as on the flip side, we never forget or become apathetic.
When I give something to someone, whether family member or a fellow disciple (especially if it is something I think is of some value), what tends to bother me most? When the beneficiary of my gift does not acknowledge or thank me for it. You don't have to pay me. You don't have to give me something back. But how about a little love? Why do most parents tell their kids, "what do you say?" Of course, what they get are kids responding begrudgingly and half-heartedly, as if they have gum in their mouths, "THANK YOU." Hopefully, we would be sincere and eager in our gratefulness for the things we have and the circsumstances we live in.
An even greater freedom was gifted to us by Jesus. Jesus stated that "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36)." Freedom from what? The oppression and enslavement of sin. Colossians 3:8 lists a few of the things we don't have to live with any more: "sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry . . . anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language . . . " Jesus stepped onto his Omaha Beach 2000 years ago on Golgotha. Just like those kids who landed in Normandy, Jesus knew he was as good as dead. He gave himself up.
What Jesus envisioned for us was to give us the spiritual benefits that men could not obtain before he died: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)." Those are the "toys" that we can enjoy today. And unlike electronic devices, real estate and even a night at Shakey's, all these spiritual amentities are free. We might as well take advantage of this spiritual windfall and hoard up a double portion of each quality.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend brothers and sisters!
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