Yesterday, I learned that an American hero with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan was killed in action. His father is a pastor friend of mine in NC, and my heart truly breaks for this family as they grieve the loss of their son. I can't begin to even imagine the pain and sorrow they feel. Join me in praying for them as they walk through this severe trial.
Although I have heard the nightly news report the deaths of thousands of our warriors over the past decade, this one has impacted me the most because I know the people who are directly affected by it. As I've reflected on this terrible news, I realize the sacrifice this son paid for our nation will be receieved in one of three ways:
1. Ignorance - Many in the United States will be unaware of the price this young man paid for their freedoms, and as result they could care less.
2. Indifference - Some will hear the news of this death and intellectually know what it means. They will receive it either with a modest level of gratitude or with no gratitude at all. However, in both instances it will not fundamentally change their outlook on life or their daily thoughts and actions.
3. Impacted - These are the ones who will hear the news and know what it means, and they will never forget the sacrifice that was made. Their lives will be different as a result.
I know I have over-simplified the responses above, because certainly there are varying levels of response along this spectrum. However, these various reactions remind me of how people treat our Heavenly Father and the sacrifice He gave for us. He sent His only Son to die for the sins of the world, yet too people respond to this great sacrifice with either ignorance or indifference, and as a result they are impacted for eternity in a very negative way. But for those who respond to Christ in faith, they are impacted for eternity in a positive way.
May we never forget the sacrifice many of our men and women in uniform have made and others are willing to make. Nor let us forget the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. One sacrifice brings us freedom for our nation, the other brings us freedom for eternity.
How will you respond?
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1 comment:
You are in my prayers. Will was certainly a True Hero. God Bless you all.
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