Every November 11th,
Canadians stop on Remembrance Day to remember those that died on both sides of
the conflict. Remembrance Day marks the
end of World War I in 1918, but traditional all wars both past and current are
considered. The red remembrance
poppy has become a familiar emblem
of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
I rarely remember a
Remembrance Day as a serving officer in the PPCLI that wasn’t bitterly
cold. Yet despite the frigid weather
people from all walks of life attend with sobriety the parades, the cenotaph
memorials and the services surrounding this Day.
As a Christian we
are clearly called to honor those who have expressed that “greater
love”[1].
Dr. John Piper is quoted as saying, “All heroes are shadows of Christ.” The double sadness that marks most Remembrance
Day ceremonies includes not only the sadness that comes from grieving over lost
lives, but the sadness that silently pervades such observances: the absence of
Christ and the Gospel.
Remembrance Day is to be a re-capitulation of the Gospel. James was right when he wrote: “What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that
battle within you?” (James 4:1, NIV).
In each of us there is a
self-absorbed, selfish nature that the Bible calls sin. We are born with it. This nature gives rise to this universal
assessment: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
(Romans 3:23, NIV).
It is, in this battle that a true Friend enters. More than give His life for comrades, He is
said to have “. . . demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8, NIV). Indeed “very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone
might possibly dare to die” (Romans 5:7, NIV).
Christ Jesus did not only die for sinners, for those who
believe and trust what He did, He makes them His friends – He adopts them into
His family. By placing His ownership on you by giving you His Holy Spirit, we
can be assured that “. . . the Spirit you received brought about your
adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”” (Romans 8:15, NIV).
At every Remembrance Day service there is a unanimous call,
to “Never again.” Although sincere, we
must admit that it can never be accomplished by human effort. But through the One who is the Prince of
Peace, someday His Eternal Kingdom will reign on earth. At that time, “he will judge between many
peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will
beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation
will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
(Micah 4:3, NIV).
This same Jesus promises to “. . . create new heavens and
a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to
mind.” (Isaiah 65:17, NIV).
[1] “Greater
love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John
15:13, NIV)
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