Memorial Day 2022

We must thank God and the men and women who gave so much so we can have the freedom to worship and the many other blessings that we enjoy day by day as Americans. Truly freedom is not free. We must never forget the cost of that precious freedom or the men and women who in the past gave everything to secure it, along with those who are still in harm’s way to ensure we retain those freedoms and blessings. 

Also remember the many in the history of the church who have given everything so that you and I might know the gospel that gives us freedom from the penalty and power of sin, a gospel message that gives assurance of rich blessings not only now but throughout all eternity.

Paul wrote in II Timothy 2:3 that as Christians we are to be good soldiers. (See also Philippians 1:2.) The Bible talks of God’s people as being His soldiers, just as literally as those who serve in our military. We rightfully remember the men and women of America who gave their lives for us, and we ought to remember those who gave their lives as God’s soldiers.

Read about Stephen in Acts 7:54-60. The history of the church records literally thousands of Christian soldiers who followed Stephen in sacrificing everything in witness to the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for us on the Cross.

Early church history records that every one of the disciples except John died a martyr’s death, some of them dying in an ugly way. James the son of Zebedee and Paul were beheaded. Several crucified in a manner similar to that of Jesus. Luke was hanged and Mark dragged to death behind a horse. And it continues through the centuries. Weekly we read of Christians in various parts of the world who are imprisoned or slain for no other reason than they are soldiers of God.

Read the description of how biblical soldiers died in Hebrews 11:35-37. History records that many men and women who were faithful soldiers of God have been pulled apart on the rack, dropped alive into boiling water or oil, burned at the stake, fed to wild animals, cut apart and left to bleed to death, skinned alive etc. But in the end the faith they had and died for as witnesses for has come to us. As we remember American servicemen and women let’s not forget the soldiers of the Cross.

In thinking about soldiers of the Cross read II Timothy 2:3 and 4 and note the following:

First, Paul implied what is taught elsewhere, if we are Christians we are automatically soldiers of Jesus. Paul did not give Timothy an option of serving or not. Paul did not discuss enlistment but simply notes that as a soldier, which he was, he was expected to act accordingly. When Jesus called us unto Himself, He called us to be His soldiers. 

Elsewhere God’s Word records that as recruits in His army He has promised to train us and equip us for the battles that will be ours. In addition, He has assured us that when the war is over, we will be honored appropriately. Even more importantly, He has assured us that we are on the winning side regardless of what we may suffer here. The book of Revelation gives an insight into the fate of the martyrs and declares they are at God’s throne rejoicing in their victory and praising God with a new song of thanksgiving. God has declared that no one who has left home or family, given up anything or suffered in any way for Him will ever be forgotten. One minute after the Lord returns no one will remember the American patriots but for the rest of eternity the sacrifice of Christian soldiers will in some way not only be remembered but be rewarded.

Second, Paul noted that it will not be easy in God’s army. Jesus never said being a Christian would be easy or without a price. In fact, He said that if the world persecuted Him then certainly it would persecute His soldiers. So, Paul wrote, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier.” Everyone who has ever served in a military will tell you it is not a picnic. Everything from basic training to actual combat is demanding and potentially dangerous. You don’t enlist for a party but for war. The same ought to be true for every one of us as Christians. We don’t become a Christian to party our way into eternity. We enlist in a winning army knowing it will be tough and maybe extremely costly for a time but in time we are going to enjoy the promised and assured victory.

Third, we are not left on our own to fight in this army. One of the neat things about being a soldier of the Lord is that our Commander and Chief has all of the details of our battles worked out and He has promised to fully equip us for both the hardships and the battles. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:3 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” And then in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus he detailed how God’s soldiers are to fight and win. Read Ephesians 6:10-17 on the armor of God.

If we follow God’s plan everything is completely under His control. Following His plan means we have His presence along with His strength and power. It can’t get any better than that for a soldier. 

While we realize that it will not be easy, we know we will ultimately win. Paul wrote, however, that if we are going to win, we must avoid the temptation to follow our Commander half-heartedly but instead we must give Him our all. Paul puts it this way, “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs.” Paul was suggesting that in a real sense we don’t live in this world that is going to pass away so we must avoid making this world our primary focus. Paul supported himself as a tentmaker, but he was determined to not being committed to that which only lasts for a time at the expense of that which lasts for eternity. We read in Scripture that we are in the world but not a part of the world since our citizenship is really in our heavenly home. (See I Peter 2:9-12.) We live temporarily here and have responsibilities here but ultimately all we are and do should be focused not on here but on there, not on today but on eternity. Read Romans 12:1 and 2 and I John 2:1517. If as soldiers of the Cross, we hold the things of this world too closely we will focus on them and not on the spiritual battle before us.

Finally, Paul wrote that a soldier of the Cross is committed and faithful because he wants to please our Commanding Officer. 

American servicemen and women have given so much to us because they love America. Soldiers of the Cross should be willing to give everything to God because as Commander in Chief He has given so much to us. A good soldier of the Cross knows the price our Commander paid to enable us to be in His kingdom and serve in His army. A faithful soldier in God’s army knows that when the end comes, he will hear his Savior declare, “Well done” and with that he will know it has been worth it all.

This Memorial Day we definitely should pause as Christians and pray for our nation. We should thank God for the freedoms we have and blessings we enjoy. We should pray for our men and women in the military as well as others who serve as protectors of our nation. At the same time, we should thank God for the Christian soldiers of the past who have faithfully served as God’s soldiers, witnessing to the truth of the gospel often with their lives. We should offer a special prayer for the persecuted church, the persecuted soldiers of God in so many parts of the world. And we should re-commit ourselves to serving faithfully in His army where we are. 

Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32

This is one of three parables in Luke 15 that go together to show us the ministry of the triune God in reaching the lost. Verses 3-7 describe the ministry of the Good Shepherd. Verses 8-10 describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit and beginning in verse 11 we see the ministry of the Father in redeeming the lost.

Man, in the person of the prodigal son, went to God, in the person of the Father, and demanded his portion of goods that he felt belonged to him. In Genesis 3 we find that man received from God, in addition to a body, a soul. It is man’s soul that is his most valuable possession. We are told elsewhere in Scripture that if a man were to gain the world and lose his soul, he would have nothing. We can take it and yield it to God, or we can squander it by offering it to the gods of this world.

Verse 13 records that the son took a journey into a far country, which is the world. Meditate on the little word “far.” Man separated from God is far from so much that God would offer.  

Verse 13 also reads that he wasted his substance in riotous living. What a powerful picture of man as a sinner. He wastes his most valuable possession on what he feels is real living when in fact it is only riotous living. It is a lifestyle that neither satisfies nor lasts. 

Verse 14 records that he encounters a mighty famine. Note that the famine arose. It was not always there. It was not there until man separated himself from God. A life of sin is like a famine. a famine that results in dying of emptiness and want. Verse 14 adds, “He began to be in need.” A major ministry of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the parable just before this. The Holy Spirit seeks to bring individuals to the place where they will see their need of Jesus. 

Verse 15 records, “So he went and hired himself out to a citizen.” This vividly pictures man without God. Note, he did not return to God but rather turned to man and to work. The parable is as modern as today. Look about us and what do we see? We see a society in which there is obvious famine of everything that is important, trying anything to satisfy the wants of his soul and fill the emptiness that is always a part of being separated from God, attaching itself to the things of this world. The prodigals of our society are attaching themselves to drugs, to alcohol, to education, to materialism, to sex, to pleasure. The list could go on looking at the things a man, who is really in search of God, is turning to rather than God. They are searching for what we have found in Jesus. We need to tell them they will never find what satisfies in the things of this world.

Read Luke 15:15. Do not miss the fact that the son ends up tending pigs, remembering that the Jewish people wanted nothing to do with pigs. He went as low as he could go. 

Verse 17 records, “When he came to his senses.” No man ever came to God without first seeing the emptiness of his life as it is being lived here and now. There is an interesting study of the word “senses,” which is the root for our word “sanity” or literally to be in the right mind. Read Ephesians 4:17-18. The prodigal is beginning to think as God thinks. Verse 18 records, “I will go back to my Father.” First, he felt the famine, then discovered that no man could help him, then began to come to a right mind, and then began to return to the Father, who was his real hope.

The verse goes on “and tell him I have sinned.” There is no other way to come to God apart from an acknowledgement that we are sinners. But he did not yet fully understand the concept of salvation by faith alone, that it is grace and grace alone that saves. He said, “I will be a hired servant.” When we get to verse 21 and he meets the Father he realizes that it is not possible to earn a place in the Father’s house.

Verses 20-24 are among the most beautiful in the Bible. They picture God’s love and all that we have in Jesus. We must say, “Praise God for all He has given to us.” Verse 20 records that when he was yet a far off the Father saw him. How could the Father have seen him afar off if had he not been watching for him? God wants every prodigal to come back to him. The Holy Spirit pleads with us and God lovingly looks for the prodigals’ return. How far away were we? Read Ephesians 2:13. 

Notice that the Father had compassion. To appreciate this, we must picture what the prodigal son had to have looked like at that point. When we come to Jesus it is always the same. We come out a famine and out of wallowing in the garbage of a pig pen. And the Father has compassion. There was nothing lovely in the son. He was pitiful but the father still loved him.  

The Father ran to him. The son arose and went but the Father ran. This is the only place we know of in the Bible where we find God is in a hurry. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. It is an expression of love that the Father shows. 

Verse 21 reads, “I have sinned.” Not only did the prodigal son recognize his sinfulness but he was willing to confess it to God. “I am not worthy.” It is only as we come to grips with our unworthiness that we can truly come to God in confession of sin. It is only as we see our helplessness that we can begin to appreciate the graciousness of God. Note, there is no mention of working. When we come to grips with how sinful we are and how holy God is, we realize we can never earn our salvation. It is by grace alone. No amount of works can compensate for our sin.

Verse 22 reads, “Bring the best robe and put it on him.” They are outside the house. A banquet is ready inside but the son, is a sinner in filthy rags, and cannot enter God’s house. The robe is brought out. The robe is already made and waiting. Salvation has already been provided by Jesus on the Cross. And it is the best robe. That robe is nothing less than the righteousness of Jesus. Read Isaiah 61:10.

Put it on him. Everything is done for us when we come to God. The best robe is provided and put on. Read Zechariah 3:4.

Verse 22 goes on, “Put a ring on his hand.” The ring is both provided and put on, not handed to him. The ring represents the Holy Spirit given to each believer and speaks of both love and ownership. 

And shoes are provided. God has not missed a thing. A kiss of welcome and reconciliation, a robe to replace our filthy rags, a ring to show ownership and now shoes for our daily walk with Him. Read Isaiah 52:7. Not only are we saved but we are equipped to walk in this life as ambassadors of Him. The son said, “I will return as a hired servant,” but God says, “You are now my ambassadors.”

Verse 23 reads, “Bring the fatted calf.” The Greek is clear. The scene has shifted from outside to inside the Father’s house. With the new robe now on we can enter into His presence. We are not outside looking to that day when we shall be with Him in heaven, but we are already at His banquet table as seen in Revelation 3:20. It is a fatted calf. Mediate upon that and how that compares to where he was when he was in the world. The pigsty has been exchanged for a feast. “Let us eat.”  Fellowship is restored. Be merry. What joy there is in Jesus. You cannot appreciate verses 22 and 23 without reading again verse 15 and 16. How great is our salvation in Christ!

The message of this parable is so clear. God’s grace is so rich it cannot be understood. God’s grace comes when we least deserve it. Don’t read the parable of the Prodigal Son without marveling at the extravagant grace of God that makes us fully restored members of His family. The parable of the Prodigal Son is a parable of love and grace.  Our response should be to praise Him for so great an undeserved salvation.