Honor Is Due
by Jeanne Rogers
Week of November 14, 2004
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)
On November 11, our nation honored the men and women who have served and those who are presently serving in the United States armed services. On that day, President Bush made his fourth visit to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery. He stood amidst the honor guard and the 3rd U.S. Infantry (the Old Guard) that keeps a night and day vigil.
At 11 a.m., a combined color guard, representing all branches of the armed forces, executed “Present Arms” at the tomb. The traditional “Taps” was played as our country’s leader, a great man of faith, soberly approached the tomb. He presented the presidential wreath—our nation’s symbolic tribute to all who lost their lives in military service to the United States of America.
I watched President Bush as he paused before the tomb. His body language made me recall the convictions of faith he declared in his last political debate in Tempe, Arizona. “God wants all people to be free,” he said, “and that freedom is a gift from the Almighty.”
His words encouraged me though I realized the scriptural reference was probably relating to spiritual freedom and not necessarily our political freedom. However, historians have pointed out that where Christianity has spread and great spiritual freedom has been experienced, political freedom follows.
History has shown that Americans dare to believe “all men are created equal” and have set out to liberate destitute people under the oppression of tyrannical dictators. It seems contemptible that these courageous and sacrificial acts of our military have been labeled as “empire building” on the part of many.
That attitude has saturated the secular media and the resulting fallout is smothering supportive words and actions for our troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. In response, a veteran and recent guest on LIFE TODAY decided to tip the scales of negativism and personally visit the front lines with encouragement.
Our friend and fellow minister, Dave Roever, is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He miraculously survived a hand grenade explosion, though it burned fifty percent of his body and left him noticeably disfigured. Over the last year, Dave has traveled into the hottest spots in the war zone of the Middle East, offering encouragement and support to our fighting men and women. He has visited hospitals, counseled those seriously injured and held the hands of a few as they died from combat wounds.
When soldiers ask him why he would visit places like Tikrit, he replies, “I was in a jungle for eight months, and not a pastor, chaplain, preacher or evangelist…not even Bob Hope or the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders came to see me. I was blown up, shot up and no one gave a rip. I am here because we learned a lesson in America during Vietnam. They protested against us, but this time the churches are praying for you, and prayer is going to bring you back home.”
One of the most memorable encounters he had was sitting with a soldier who was dying in Iraq. Dave whispered in his ear, “This is not a hospital; it’s a sanctuary. This is not a gurney; it’s an altar. And you are more than a soldier; you’re a sacrifice, and I have come from America to tell you, 'Thank you.’”
Dave knew the soldier heard what he said before he died, and stated with conviction, “If I have lived for no other cause than for one man to hear someone say, ‘Thank you,’ then I have lived a good cause.”
Dave has laid down his life for his country so he knows about sacrifice. He knows what our brave young men and women as well as their friends and families are giving up for the cause of freedom.
At LIFE Outreach International, we salute our soldiers around the world. They are living a good cause. To those in uniform, we say a heartfelt, “Thank you. May God bless and protect you.”
This Week
Express thanks to men and women who serve in the armed forces. Give praise and thanks to God for spiritual liberty and pray that those who are being liberated in the Middle East will experience spiritual liberty through Jesus Christ. "If, therefore, the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
Prayer
"Thank You, Lord, for granting us freedom through the efforts of our committed soldiers. Bring wars to an end and swift justice to evil leadership and terrorism. Bring peace to war-torn countries. May we continue to live free in America and advance liberty—both spiritually and politically—throughout the earth."
