Justin Morton
This coming Saturday, November 11, our nation will celebrate Veteran’s Day. This is an annual federal holiday to honor all the veterans who have served our great country. While many of us may have family or friends who are veterans, our congregation is blessed to have a good number of men and women who have bravely served our country. We would like for each of you to know how much we appreciate all the sacrifices you made in order to serve the United States. Although words are not nearly enough, we do say THANK YOU! Thank you for putting others above yourselves and placing your lives on the line in order to serve. Thank you for the days, months and years you endured combat on foreign fields and separation from your families to help keep us safe. Our country enjoys the freedoms we do today because of brave men and women like you.
As Americans, we enjoy many freedoms and privileges because people have been willing to make great sacrifices throughout the years. I hope you and I never take our freedoms for granted. Likewise, as Christians, we are privileged and blessed with an even greater freedom, but one that we all too often forget. Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Each and every one of us deserves death because of our sins, but because of Jesus Christ we are offered freedom instead.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down His own life for all mankind (Jn. 10:17-18; Rom. 5:6-9). His sacrifice was not just for good people, but also for evil people. He did not shed his blood for one race, but for all races. His death on the cross was not only for one nation, but for all nations. We are able to enjoy freedom from sin and death because of the sacrifice Jesus made on that old rugged cross some 2,000 years ago.
This week, as you reflect on the freedom this country enjoys and thank those who helped make that freedom possible, be sure to take some time to thank our heavenly Father above. A great sacrifice was made so we could enjoy freedom from sin and death. While salvation may be free, it came at a great price.