Memorial Day - 2006

INTRO.- ILL.- Thomas Monaghan is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza. From 1970 to 1985, Domino’s grew from a small debt-ridden chain to the second largest pizza company in America.

When asked to account for the phenomenal growth of the company, Monaghan explained, “I programmed everything for growth.” And how did he plan for growth? “Every day we develop people—the key to growth is developing people.”

Not special cheese, not a tasty crust, not fast delivery schedules, but people!

Just as Thomas Monaghan emphasized the importance of people, so must we. Where did Monaghan get the idea that people were so important? I don’t know where he got his idea but I know where the importance of people first started. IT STARTED WITH OUR CREATOR!

Gen. 1:26-27 “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

There it is! God said, “Let us make man in our image.” God didn’t say, “Let us make the dog in our image,“ or “Let us make trees in our image.” God made man or mankind the most important thing in all of His creation!

And God’s emphasis in scripture has always been on people! God is interested in people because people are His highest creation! God wants all people to be saved eternally! God loves people!

If He didn’t love people then why did Christ die on the cross for the sins of people?

ILL.- Rick Warren writes in The Purpose Driven Life, “I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, ‘Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given.’ When life on earth is ending, people don’t surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people – people we love and have relationships with. In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is all about.”

What does Memorial Day weekend mean to you? Extra time off from work? A three-day weekend? Eating? Grilling out? Fun time? The Indy 500? Or perhaps remembering others?

ILL.- At a commuter train station a policeman noticed a woman driver with her head bowed over the steering wheel in obvious discomfort. The police officer asked her, "Is there anything wrong?"

Half crying and half laughing, she said, "For ten years I have been driving my husband to this station every morning to catch this train. THIS MORNING I FORGOT HIM!"

Brothers and sisters, the worst forgetfulness of all is to forget people! One of the biggest lessons that we need to learn is that God didn’t put us here for us! God put us here for others!

This Memorial Day weekend we need to be concerned about others for their good! IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO THINK OF OTHERS, TO LOVE OTHERS, AND TO REMEMBER OTHERS!

In II Timothy 1:3-5 we see that Paul remembered his friend Timothy.

V. 3 - “I constantly remember you...in my prayers.”

V. 4 - “Recalling your tears....”

V. 5 - “I have been reminded of your sincere faith...”

Paul remembered Timothy in several ways. He remembered him enough to pray for him. He remembered Timothy’s pain in life. He recalled his tears. And remembered that he was a man of faith in the Lord. Timothy was important to Paul.

PROP.- On this Memorial Day weekend we need to think about people. God put us here to remember people!

1- remember the deceased

2- remember the living

I. REMEMBER THE DECEASED

Rom. 1:8-9 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you.”

ILL.- Someone has well said, “Say goodbye to me, but not to the thought of me.” We need to remember the deceased.

This Memorial Day weekend we should look back and remember people. We should remember the deceased: deceased veterans, deceased family members and friends.

Originally, Memorial Day was instituted to remember the Civil War dead, but over the years it has become a time to remember all deceased veterans and all our deceased loved ones.

This is one reason why it has long been called “Decoration Day.” Many people still go to the graves of their loved ones and decorate them as a sign they haven’t forgotten them. HOW COMMENDABLE THAT IS!