Getting Home Alive

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, has become important to many families again with all the involvement of the Armed Forces throughout the world in recent years. The drafting of young men into service was a way of life when I graduated High School. Lucky for me I graduated at just barely 17 years old and spent some time in the world before entering service at 19. At night during the first few weeks of basic training it wasn’t uncommon to here away-from-home-first-timers crying in their pillow, scared to death, right out of High School and feeling alone. But, everyone finally came to their senses to form a bond of unity and learned to help each other, seeing that that was the only way to survive in the unfamiliar environment. The biggest impression the DI’s had to bring about in training was, “Pay attention and you’ll go home alive!”
I’ve never been there in person, but I’m told that visiting Washington, D.C. is an awesome experience and to take in all that is worthwhile, cannot be rushed. The U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian) alone can absorb two days easily. Then to visit all the various monuments and such, dedicated to past Presidents and American heroes who fought to uphold the principles of democracy, takes some traveling, but well worth the effort. This time of year the three draw cards in D.C. are, Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Vietnam War Memorial. Near the memorial site stands a statue of three soldiers searching for lost comrades. I’ve seen on one of the Discovery Channel stations, that to this very day gifts, letters, pictures, metals, artifacts and flags are being left there by friends, family and inspired onlookers to honor those who were lost and never accounted for. A few years back a letter was found that had been written by a very distraught mother, who still held hope in her heart, to her son: Dear Jimmy, Dad’s gone now. I miss you a great deal and am waiting for you to come home. I love you. MOM. Unfortunately, Jimmy has not come home and never will.
[Ephesians 6: 10-12 &1 Timothy 6: 6-12] There comes a day in everyone’s life when we meditate on and question the meaning of life. During our examination we tend to feel we’re all alone and some become so overwhelmed with the trials and conflicts of life they just sit down and cry. Paul tells us that most of us are simply fighting the wrong battle. The meaning of life is deep within us. The battle we wage is not to save a dying body of flesh and blood, but a spirit not wanting to spend eternity in a place of constant distress. With or without your help the spirit will put up the best front it can against the evil one and the conscience guilt you feel is the pain expressed by your spirit as it battles on. You’re not alone here away from your spiritual home, and joining forces in unity with others, the church, which strive to live a righteous life before God will rid you of guilt and strengthen your spirit. I recently had someone tell me that nobody is able to live a righteous life. We searched God’s Word and discovered that statement to be false. Just one scripture alone, Luke 15:7, states that there are righteous people living in this world, free of guilt and shame before the Lord. If it were not so, Jesus would have never said it. The Word of God is a message of love and hope to you and I that we might, “Pay attention and get home alive!” Help your spirit fight the battle of good and evil. Put on the full armor of God, Ephesians 13-18. All of heaven is watching for your return home.