In prayers and thoughts, across the nation, on this Memorial Day, many of us quietly reflect upon the sacrifice of so many who have given their lives to defend and preserve our freedom. In spite of occasional concern and complaint, we have been blessed to live in a land whose founding fathers understood, at least in part, the principle of Scripture which reads: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Ps. 33:12). Such favor will continue so long as and to the extent that we remember God as our Creator and Sustainer.
Ultimate sacrifice is appealing for this reason: a life worth living is a life, the purpose of which is clearly identified by the things or people for which its sacrifice is willingly given. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). Christianity is about sacrificial relationship—relationship with God and our fellowman (Mt. 22:37-39). These relationships are guided by the principles and examples we receive from the Father and His beloved Son. Paul stated the obvious when he said, “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die” (Rm. 5:7). But then, he goes on to the profound example of sacrificial love, saying, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (vs. 8). Jesus did not utter empty words when He said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). The wonderful story of love is still the most profound, most emotionally impacting, and most intensely motivating event of human history.
Loving sacrifice—giving everything for a greater purpose, a purpose that will outlast life itself–this is the purpose to which we have been called in Christ. So great is such sacrificial purpose in Christ that any “momentary, light affliction” will seem as nothing compared to our “eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). When such sacrifice is extended toward heaven—in our relationship to Deity—it will be seen correspondingly in our relationship toward one another in the body of Christ. In the context of considering the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul says that “not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rm. 14:7-8). Mutual love and concern—this is a form of ultimate sacrifice. Such loving sacrifice will make the church a bright and shining light in the world around us. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:10-11).