And because of my chains…
Summary: Memorial Day is a special day of remembrance. We owe a special debt of gratitude to all who have fought for our country and died for our freedoms.
Note: This meditation was written for publication on Memorial Day, 2025.
Chains, for the person bound by them, are a constant reminder of confinement. A person who is chained is a slave to the chains.
Freedom is to be free of chains. It doesn’t matter whether the chains are steel or something else. Anything that restricts our freedom is a metaphorical “chain,” if not a real one.
Freedom, sadly, comes at a cost. We live in a world where we are born into slavery. Like a dog on a long lead, we think we are free until we reach the end of our rope. Then we are pulled up short, and we realize that what seemed like freedom was really a deception.
Real freedom is being free from the chains of eternal condemnation. True freedom is only possible when the chains of rebellion have been removed, and we are reunited with our Creator.
Today, on Memorial Day, we remember our fallen heroes, those who have stood up to do battle with the forces of Evil that would chain us, body and soul. We honor those heroes with a special day, a prayer of thanks and blessing, and for those heroes who are still living, we offer a humble “Thank you for your service to our country.”
But what about the fallen heroes of the Faith?
What about those who gave their lives so that you and I could be freed from the chains of sin and condemnation?
There is a battle that has been raging since the days of Adam and Eve. It is a battle between the forces of Good and the armies of Evil. Paul describes it this way:
”For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of Evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Even though our battle is not against flesh and blood, the flesh has sometimes fallen in battle. Early on, the prophets of God fell for the sake of truth (Luke 11:47). Then came the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly threw himself on the metaphorical hand grenade of sin and death so that you and I might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10 ESV).
Even after Jesus conquered death, his disciples and apostles continued to die. Paul himself gave his life in the service of our Lord.
This Memorial Day, while we remember the fallen heroes of our nation and honor those who have served and still serve to protect her, let us also remember the fallen heroes of our Faith. Knowing in their hearts that Jesus has overcome death, they gave up life in the flesh so that we could enjoy true freedom in Christ.
Application: Remember those who have passed and those who continue the fight.
Food for Thought: How are our military heroes similar to the heroes of our Faith?
I guess the obvious answer is that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the freedom of others.
We should remember those who died for us.
2 Corinthians 5: 15: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Galatians 2: 20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Thank you, Rich!
What a great point! He died … and was raised again.
You bring to mind the Scripture:
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.'”
— 1 Corinthians 15:54
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Thank you JEC!
Great passage!! Hebrews points us to the reality that the spiritual reality we believe in is unseen … until it isn’t. 🙂
I was reading in Philippians yesterday, specifically this passage:
Philippians 2:1-11 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The paragraph has been aptly titled “Christ’s Example of Humility”, or similar, in many translations of the Bible.
This passage contains a lot more than what I have highlighted below, but in the spirit of the question asked, I offer these about Christ:
He did nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility counted others more significant than Himself.
He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
He took the form of a servant.
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.
When we look at the heroes of our Faith, we can see they emulated Christ in their service to Him. Humility: Before God and in the way they lived alongside mankind, as servants of Christ and therefore in service of others, and many obedient to the point of death.
I don’t claim to know the hearts of other people, and specifically our military heroes. But I do know the sacrifices made by our military heroes required humility, sacrificial service to others, and obedience even to the point of death. I think in this way our military heroes are similar to the heroes of our Faith.
I agree.
👍
Thank you, Chris.
Very well said!
How are our military heroes similar to the heroes of our Faith?
They belong to a brotherhood!
They come from all backgrounds, races, with a common goal. Were all vitally important parts of a larger body and served one commander with purpose and focus. They looked out for one another as they celebrated their victories and morned the losses incurred as they pursued their higher purpose to conquer evil.
All belonged to a very special fellowship which no expiration date, and will one day have a special eternal hug for those who served on their left and on their right.
Happy Memorial Day to all who served and those who supported their decision!
Thank you, Brother!
Yes, it is true. We are all of the same family with the same Father.
Amen!