Remembering Veterans of War and Faith

As I write, Veterans Day is focusing on remembering those who have served our military, many of them giving their lives to defend America in war and peace. The newspapers and media programs today feature gripping stories of military survivors whose memories recall gallant service and not a few recounting their fellow soldiers’ deaths in tortured battles around the globe.

Formerly called Armistice Day but renamed after World War II, Veterans Day recalls the end of World War I when, on November 11, the armistice became official in a railroad car at 11:00 AM in a French forest in 1918. Many observe a two-minute silence at precisely 11:00 AM each November 11.

This year, as Veterans Day approached, my wife and I realized our outdoor flags had worn out and not been replaced. It would be a tragic oversight not to replace them by November 11. Dutifully, we shopped last night at a nationally known department store chain only to find they did not stock any outdoor American flags. We drove away sadly noting the pathetic erosion of awareness and appreciation for those who have served, and recalling that when wars first raged in Iraq and Afghanistan, flags were flying and patriotism ran high. Now, we admitted, even though our troops are still fighting and dying, often leaving broken homes behind, the edge is gone, and we tend to forget.

First thing this morning, I bought two new flags at our local hardware store where they had an ample stock. One was for our residence and the other for the Dedication Evangelism headquarters building next door. The proper locations were awkwardly reached, but the mounting screws didn’t go in easily. At our Communications Center, the anchor place was just out of easy reach, and I had to position and reposition the ladder, then ascend slowly to properly install the flag.

It took much longer to put up the flags than I had planned, and I was tempted to complain and fret over the delay as other important business was waiting inside. But then I thought, “Why am I distressed over these few minutes when brave men and women have fought and died so I can live in freedom and preach the Gospel through our ministry? Shame on me!” And so I got the flags flying on this special day.

All this eventually turned my attention to God’s memorial passages of the Bible. One is Hebrews 6:10, where we find, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 11 is an entire chapter honoring spiritual warriors who fought the Lord’s spiritual battles in faith. Some were prominent Bible figures, such as Abel, Noah, Abraham and Moses. Others were obscure, remote figures whose life flitted past with scarcely a lingering notice, such as Barak and Jephthah. (Read up on them in Judges 4, 5, 11 and 12.)

All heroes of faith are memorialized in God’s record books, even those who merely frequently fellowship in the Lord. “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name.” (Malachi 3:16 & 17)

Human peace agreements are only temporary given the warring, uncontrollable nature of sinful man. When Hitler came to power to begin WWII and crushed France, French officials were forced to sign a surrender armistice in that same rail car parked in that identical spot in the French forest on June 22, 1940.

However, in Christian theology, our surrender becomes our permanent freedom. Calling on the Name of the Lord brings salvation as Romans 10:13 declares. In Christ we yield and are liberated forever. John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Romans 5:1 reaffirms it: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …”

November 11 will pass and veterans will be forgotten for another year, but we are never forgotten by “the captain of [our] salvation” (Heb. 2:10). “God is not unjust to forget….”

Dave Virkler