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Today is Memorial Day and it just happens to be my 60th anniversary of coming to America as a child. Today is also the day we remember our loved ones who have passed on as well as the service men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. And one more thing, remembering Jesus, who gave His life for us.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
John 15:13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Perhaps you are thinking of a loved one you have lost. It is comforting to know that they are in a better place. But how do we know for sure? Can we know for sure?
Those who know the Lord can with assurance say yes! Yet, we have many friends and acquaintances, even folks you may not have yet met, who do not know of the good news of the Gospel.
While we are still here, we need to be on a mission to not only make sure we will go to heaven, but to explain how others God brings into our lives can also know for sure. 1 John 5:13 gives us this assurance that “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
In Luke 22:19, we are commanded to remember Jesus and do this in memory of Him, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.'”
This is your Memorial Day. We need to remember the death of Jesus Christ. Although the Substitutionary Atonement is a simple theological doctrine to understand, the full ramifications of Christ paying for all our sins is the most profound concept in the universe. 1 Corinthians 15:3 makes it clear, “that Christ died for our sins.”
However, although Christ paid for all of our sins on the Cross with His very Blood, not everyone appropriates that great gift of salvation. 1 John 5:12 provides the answer that “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God does not have life.”
Speaking of memory, do you remember a time that you personally owned up to your sin and its consequence of eternal separation from God in hell? John 3:36 warns that only those “that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
If you can’t remember the moment Jesus moved into your heart, then He isn’t there. If you don’t have Him, His death doesn’t count for you. If you don’t remember being born again, perhaps you can make a new memory now and receive Him now.
Think about the sins that keep you from heaven. Lies, lust, greed, disrespect to parents, doing things you know are wrong, you need forgiveness. Christ took your sins upon Himself and died. Accept Him now as your personal Savior. Ask Him to forgive you and let Him into your life and make a new eternal memorial day!
