Tuesday, November 11, 2008               Remembrance Day

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A Battle to Fight

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Today in many countries around the world, the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, people will pause to pay tribute to the veterans of the wars fought and especially to those who gave their lives in war.  Lest we forget.  We should remember and appreciate what others have done for us at great cost to themselves.  This day and this time was chosen because that marked the signing of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.  Poppys will be worn and there will be services in various places and likely someone will read "In Flanders Fields" written by Colonel John McCrae.

I must confess that growing up as a young man, this all seemed so distant to me.  There were thank God, no more world wars, and although we heard about the Vietnam conflict and the protest against it, Canada knew almost nothing of war.  Add to that the fact that I grew up in a religious tradition that was pacifist and the fact that I did not really know any veterans or people who had died in any war, it all contributed to my feeling out of touch with this remembrance.  I did not know really who or what to remember, other than to be grateful in some vague way for the freedoms that I enjoyed and that it cost somebody something great to win them. 

I can only imagine the personal impact and what it must be like to have someone that you love, a father perhaps, a son, or some other member of your family, give up their life for your country.  Then we would really feel something when we are called to remember and to not forget.  Jesus said that there is no greater love than this, to lay down ones life for another.  He did that himself, remember, to win another battle, that is played out each and every day.  It is a world war, that continues from the first day to this, with an enemy that is bent on our destruction.  He wants to steal, kill and destroy and enslave us.  He wants to be the world power.  Thanks be to God for the fact that Jesus took up the battle and went to war for us.  He has won the war, defeated the devil, and given us the freedom in Christ that we enjoy.  And it cost him dearly, his very life!

We may feel somewhat detached from the battles that are still being fought today, whether in Afghanistan or elsewhere in the world, and we may not even understand the whys or hows.  We can and should pray for our countries and our soldiers and for the other countries of the world whose experience is not the peace that we enjoy.  The battle for rights and freedoms is one that we can endorse as people who are called to do justice.  I need to remember to pray more for our country and our involvement in the world.  I need to pray more for those countries where the situation is not what God would called blessed.

Pray.  Yes.  For those around the world, but for ourselves as well.  We do have a battle to fight every day.  Not with guns and ammunition.  "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world" (2 Corinthians 10:4).  We have armor to put on (Ephesians 6:10-20).  We are wrestling against "the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" and against all of "the devil's schemes."  We are most certainly in a battle, and the consequences of this heavenly battle are manifested in the earth each and every day.  Prayer is our greatest weapon.  Paul says,

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

 I remember seeing a slogan several years ago that said, "Kneel down and fight like a man."  Exactly what I am talking about.  We do have a battle to fight.  We have a battle for our own minds and a battle for women and children and families.  We have a battle for the hearts and minds of men.  We are assaulted on every side.  There is one who has loved us and laid down his life for us, his friends.  His name is Jesus.  And he calls each one of us to the same love.  We each have only so and so much life to live.  When we take our time and energy and expend it for others, spending time praying for them or doing practical things to help them in their battle, we are literally laying down our life for others and showing our love, not just for them but for the God who loves them as well.

It is easy for life to happen and for us to forget.  That is why we have calls to remembrance.  Remember to pray today, not for the fallen though we remember their sacrifice with gratitude.  Remember to pray today for those around you who are under attack.  There is most certainly a battle raging around us.  It is a battle for the souls of men and women and children.  And it has eternal consequences.  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).  Will you lay down your life today for others as Jesus laid down his life for you?

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