Earn This

“EARN THIS!”

Lighthouse Worship Center

July 6, 2008, 4TH of July Weekend

INTRODUCTION:

“FREEDOM” is & has been, bought & paid for by the “BLOOD OF PATRIOTS” who many times fought & will FIGHT & SPILL their “LIFE’S BLOOD on FOREIGN SOILS FOR THE CAUSE OF “LIBERTY, LIFE & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” TO BE REALIZED BY EVERY MAN, WOMAN & CHILD!

“FREEDOM” is not only won by the “BLOOD OF PATRIOTS” but it is “SUSTAINED” BY THE “BLOOD OF PATRIOTS” LIVING & DYING!

While in Washington DC almost 2 years ago I stood watching the “Changing of the Guard” the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”. I was moved as I felt emotion welling up in my spirit & tears in my eyes as I thought about a Patriot laying there in the Tomb whose family didn’t know where he was but he was willing to lay down all he had for the cause of “FREEDOM” without reservation. Just like Jesus did! Who thought “FREEDOM” more important than self so you and I and our children’s children could stand “FREE!”

As I walked the hallowed halls of our nation’s capital seeing all the pictures of patriots long gone who died so this nation’s “IDEALS & SENSE OF FREEDOM” could be realized & whose God could be served I FELT SMALL & AT THE SAME TIME I FELT “TALL & PROUD” TO BE AN AMERICAN!

I walked the War Monuments & the Korean War Monument. Outside of the Korean War Monument is a kiosk & there you can pull up the names & pictures of soldiers who fought & died in Korea. I carefully typed “CHARLES E. CARY” & his face showed up. He was my uncle, mother’s brother, who died there in Korea at the tender of age of 17 for his nation. I WANT TO MAKE HIM PROUD OF HIS SACRIFICE, DUTY & HIS NEPHEW!

I say again.

FREEDOM IS NOT ONLY “WON” BY THE “BLOOD OF PATRIOTS” BUT IT IS “SUSTAINED” BY THE “BLOOD OF PATRIOTS!”

PATRIOTS LIVING & DYING!

A few years ago a movie was made called “Saving Private Ryan.” The movie is set in France during WWII. The defense dept. receives word a mid-western family had 4 sons serving in the war at the same time & 3 of them killed in service to their country & fellow man. The 4th son in France. It was decided that no family in these great United States should have to suffer the tragedy of losing 4 sons to war, so they sent a team after this last son: Private Ryan.

The team overcame countless obstacles, not to mention the enemy, in their search for Private Ryan. Along the way, members of the team are wounded & killed. They begin to ask why the life of this one private should be deemed more important than the lives being sacrificed to bring him home? Why is his welfare held in higher regard than theirs?

In that movie Tom Hanks is the leader of that group of men searching for Private Ryan. He does his best to maintain the focus of his men, telling them that it’s not their place to question, but rather to accept their mission & carry out their orders. They duty is to their country & their country has asked this of them.

Finally, they find Private Ryan & tell him they’ve orders to retrieve him & get him home, but Ryan doesn’t want to leave his unit. Ryan has orders to keep a group of German tanks from crossing a bridge until adequate air support can arrive. If they can’t hold off the tanks, then they’re to blow up the bridge. Ryan’s honor & sense of duty to his unit would not allow him to walk away from an battle that cold cost his comrades their lives, not to mention his life. He didn’t feel justified in leaving for “Freedom & Safety” & leaving them to fight alone w/out him.

Ryan convinces Hanks & his outfit to stay & fight, promising to leave w/them after the battle. Hanks agrees, but only if Ryan will stay our of harm’s way so he can make it back home. A bloody battle takes place in which many lives are lost. Hanks’ entire outfit is killed but they save Private Ryan. There’s a gripping scene at the end of the battle while Hanks lay dying. Private Ryan comes to help, but Hanks tells him to go on & then he says to Private Ryan, “EARN THIS! EARN THIS!”

I look around this sanctuary & we didn’t earn a bit of it BUT NOW WE CAN & NOW WE MUST “EARN THIS!” I look around a nation today that for a great part is not “EARNING THIS FREEDOM!” we share not to mention their fare share of “FREEDOM!”