Steve Ellison: Memorial Day Remembrances

  • Friday, May 27, 2016
  • Steve Ellison

The Civil War, our bloodiest war, gave birth to holidays honoring those who gave there all for their country. In 1868, the United States set aside May 30th to remember their great sacrifice. Since 1971, in classic American seeking of self, we have chosen to take a three day weekend by choosing to take a day off from work on the last Monday in May.  Oh, the real Memorial Day is still May 30th but we go about our business on that day and recreate on a different day.   Many, if not most, of our young people have no idea what Memorial Day stands for.  I am moved by the greatest of all sacrifices made on my behalf; I hope you are also.  May you and I both do a better job of honoring our fallen heroes.

I am also moved by the sacrifices of another group of men and women.  I am a Christian.  I believe that Jesus was an historical figure who lived and died.  I believe that He is exactly who He claimed to be.  Why would I believe that?  I have faith that’s why.  Is it blind faith?  No.  There is credible evidence for my faith.  I have studied the Bible for many years and find it to be absolutely reliable.   The eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection provide me with tremendous reasons to believe.   I am amazed at the faithful, steadfast, never wavering testimony by the first century followers of Jesus.  They didn’t risk everything; rather, they threw everything away, in order to testify to the authenticity of the claims of Jesus. Following Jesus in their culture was certainly not a way to climb the ladder of success.  Instead, it was a plummet to the bottom.  The Bible records an unbelievable transformation in their lives immediately following Christ’s resurrection and ascension.  The Bible gives limited information regarding their deaths, but tradition and history tell us much about the deaths of these eyewitnesses to Jesus life and work.  If you are interested in details and documentation, I would recommend Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.  Their great sacrifices to spread the gospel message around the world (and ultimately to me) is worth remembering, yea memorializing.

These eyewitnesses lost their property, wealth, standing in the community, family relationships, and often their very lives, in order to substantiate the claims of Christ.  It seems to me that they were absolutely convinced that Jesus was who He said He was, that He did what He claimed to do, that He was coming back for His followers.  I don’t know about you, but I would not live in poverty, ostracized from my community and family, facing almost certain torture and martyrdom if I was not absolutely, without a shadow of doubt, convinced about the truth of Christ’s claims.  I am far too fond of comfort and food and life.  I am very grateful that these eyewitnesses sacrificed so much in order to validate their testimony of Jesus.  They did that for all Christians including me.  Their testimony strengthens and encourages me.

It is my hope and prayer that during this Memorial Day season, all of us who claim the name of Christ will remember the sacrifices of those early Christians, fallen heroes that they are.  As I look into the future I wonder what you and I will be called upon to sacrifice in order to testify to the authenticity of Christ and His claims.  May we be as faithful as those early eyewitnesses.  If the Lord tarries, future generations depend on our memorial sacrifices.

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pastorsteve8800@gmail.com

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