Today in America, we celebrate a Holiday called Memorial Day. It is a time we honor and remember those who gave their life for our freedom. Freedom that the majority take for granted. They have no idea what their freedom costs others. If they could only understand what had to happen in order for us to be allowed to make the choices we do, they would see that freedom is not free!
For over 250 years, men and women have fought for the freedoms we have in America. Since the American Revolutionary War, it is estimated that 651,031 American soldiers have died in battle. These are the men and women we should be remembering today. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom. No greater expression of love could be given than this.
While we remember those who have died for our freedoms here in America. There is a greater freedom that most never acknowledge. This is the freedom to be free from the penalty and power of sin. This freedom comes from the love of Jesus. He loves those who are His enemies. He loves the most unlovely people in the world. People we would not desire to love because of the vile or hideous crimes they have committed. He died for those who rejected, mocked, and persecuted Him. He even asks the Father to forgive those crucifying Him because they did not understand what they were doing. Jesus speaks of this kind of love in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
The King of Kings died so that you could have the freedom to choose Heaven as your destination after this life is over. A place where you can spend eternity with Him forever. Where everything is perfect and there will be no more sin. He gives you the choice to escape eternal Hell, where those who go there will be punished forever. There is nothing good in Hell, no friends to enjoy your evil ways, no more getting high for the addict, no drugs to ease the pain, or comfort in having others with you. The freedom you have to choose your afterlife was granted because He was willing to lay down His life. Your freedom costs God the life of His Son. It costs God and Jesus the pain of being separated. The one and only time in history or the future when Jesus was separated from His Father was when all of our sins were poured out on Him on the cross. In Matthew 27:46, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
The most loving thing anyone can ever do for another is lay down their life. It is the ultimate expression of love. The greatest expression of love for mankind was Jesus loving us enough to die for us. It granted freedom from the power and penalty of sin. It is a free gift to all who believe, but it wasn’t free to God, and certainly not to Jesus. Life itself is the most valuable thing we possess. Today, be thankful for those who gave their lives so you could live in a free country. This allows you freedom of speech and freedom to choose a religion, but most of all, be thankful today for the freedom to gain eternal life in Heaven. Jesus, the one who gave His life for yours, granted this choice.
