The Ultimate Sacrifice

I couldn’t help but to compare the verse of scripture, that first came up on my Bible study program as it loaded on my laptop this morning, with the reason for our celebration of MEMORIAL DAY here in the United States.  In Romans 10:13 the Apostle Paul shared the crux of the Gospel Message declaring that, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (God’s Word ©)

When I read that verse, I immediately connected it with what is probably the most popular verse in the Bible in John 3:16 where Jesus stated “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (EMTV)

According to History.com “Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.”  It is a day set aside for all of us to remember those brave individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the freedoms that you and I in the United States get to enjoy and participate in every day.

Therefore, my initial thought this morning as I sat at my desk in my study, was that just as we honor those who have given their lives for our freedom, so should we honor Jesus who gave His life for our freedom from eternal death and the bondages of Satan’s rule and dominion in this world.

I was thinking the other day, about Piper’s and my background and shared experiences in the Christian church and realized that over the years, we had gained a very unique and diversely well-rounded ecumenical experience.  In high school and Junior College, we led groups in the Baptist Church, in college we helped to lead Bible Studies with both Inter-Varsity and the Catholic on campus Newman Center.  Once married our hands-on experiences included different denominational churches, charismatic churches, Pentecostal and Word of Faith fellowships.

So, needless to say, we saw a wide variety of worship expression, traditions, styles and Biblical emphasis.  In all of these settings we observed those who were on-fire for the Lord, the strong and mature individuals and the new and/or baby Christians.  But I think the people that Piper and I were drawn to the most, were those Christians who were living way below their potential when seen in line with the available benefits of having the fulness of Christ in their lives. 

For many of these folks, it was as if they had settled to be happy and blessed in being saved from eternal death with the hope of a home in heaven waiting for them… but until then they would just muddle through life until their bodies finally succumbed to physical death… and that’s where Piper and I would come in to share that there is SO MUCH MORE that the Christian life has to offer… in the here and now on this earth!

In Romans 10:13 the idea of calling upon the name of the Lord is defined and experienced through the power, authority and excellence inherent in the name of Jesus!  Thayer’s says that the word “NAME” in this verse “is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.”

When one connects that knowledge with the full definition of the word “SAVED” at the end of the verse, you’ll discover everything that is offered and available to any of us who are called by that name (ie; Christian).  Strong’s tells us that the Greek meaning of the word “sozo” (saved) goes way beyond salvation from eternal death, but also incudes the ideas of “deliverance, protection, healing, preservation, the ability to do well and make whole.”  C.I. Scofield states that “Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes…” 

In John 17:17 Jesus prayed to the Father asking that He would set Christians apart from the world’s way of life by the truth that is the Word of God.  In 2 Corinthians 1:20 Paul further explained that “all of God’s promises find their “yes” of fulfillment in Jesus. And as his “yes” and our “amen” ascend to God, we bring him glory!  (The Passion Translation)  And then in Ephesians 1:22 we discover that “God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good (or benefit) of the church.” (God’s Word ©) 

So… it doesn’t take a Biblical scholar to see that God has provided the way for Christians to live a better, more fulfilling and satisfying life on this earth.  He has given us all the tools to live a life above the dictates of the daily news and thereby be an example to a hungry world that is looking for just what YOU’VE GOT… and when they ask… you can joyfully lead them into the everlasting Kingdom of God!

So… as you honor the brave Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms you enjoy in the United States of America… also take a few moments to remember the ONE who also gave the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom from eternal death and provide an everlasting level of life that begins the moment you are Born-Again and will continue through eternity!

Have a great celebration of MEMORIAL DAY today, and as you do… keep EXPECTING God’s best for your life today!