Remember Our Heroes

Remember Our Heroes

Many patriots enlisted in the Army during World War II and saw action that involved horrific scenes they would never forget.

They seldom spoke of their war experiences, but it scarred many of them spiritually for the rest of their lives. For example, many had been active in church before the war but after they returned, they never attended church again.

Beginning with Pearl Harbor and its 2,403 war dead, World War II ultimately cost 407,316 military personnel their lives. As we observe today the eightieth anniversary of the "date which will live in infamy," each of us should pause to remember those who died in battle so Americans might live in freedom; we should ask ourselves whether we are answering their courage with our own.

"The king is not saved by his great army"

Most of us are not fighting military battles in defense of our nation, but every Christian is stationed on the front lines of the spiritual conflicts of our day. As Paul noted, "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

There is a battle going on for the soul of our nation. More Americans than ever before dismiss biblical truth as superstition and biblical morality as outdated. A radical ideology rejects biblical faith as homophobic, bigoted, and dangerous to human flourishing and seeks to replace it with a secular insistence on personal "authenticity" at all costs.

This rising cultural opposition to biblical truth is unprecedented in American history. Like our Pearl Harbor heroes and other military veterans, we must answer the call to serve our nation spiritually with sacrificial courage.

However, in this conflict we need to remember, "The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength" (Psalm 33:16). Rather, "the eye of the Lᴏʀᴅ is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love" (v. 18).

Human words cannot save human hearts. You and I cannot convict even a single sinner of a single sin or convert a single soul. This battle must therefore be waged on our knees as we ask and trust God to empower us and use us to advance his kingdom in our culture. David's testimony should be ours: "You rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand is to make great and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:12).

"When I am weak, then I am strong"

When our lost culture rejects those who proclaim biblical morality, we can say with Paul, "For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). We can remember the heroes like Sen. Bob Dole who have defended our nation with sacrificial courage. And we can emulate their commitment in the strength of our Lord (Philippians 4:13).