Sermon
Lanier Christian Church
May 29, 2016
David Simpson
Sacrifice – The True Cost of Freedom
Hebrews 9:27-28
It’s Memorial Day weekend. It is seen by many as the beginning of summer. Lake Lanier will be filled with boaters and swimmers and campers and picnickers who will celebrate fun on this holiday weekend. But, the truth of Memorial Day is that it is not a celebration. It is a commemoration; a time to remember the sacrifice of many. Memorial Day reminds us of the true cost of freedom. Freedom isn’t free. It comes at a great cost. I have read and heard the stats, and so have most of you.
In our nation’s first 100 years of existence, over 683,000 Americans lost their lives, with the Civil War accounting for
623,026 of that total (91.2%). Compare that to the next 100 years and 626,000 died through two world wars and several regional conflicts, such as Vietnam and our current conflicts in the Middle East. World War 2 saw 65% of our soldiers die in the latter half of our history. (From U.S. Army Military History Institute; iCasualties.org).
That’s well over a million lives that have been sacrificed for our freedom and the freedom of others around the world.
We have ways to remember the sacrifice of these brave young men and women. There are cemeteries such as Arlington, just outside of Washington D.C. It is filled with row upon row of headstones that represent the sacrifice of many for our nation’s freedom. It is a beautiful, yet humbling place. Our family toured these peaceful grounds last year and it is indeed a solemn and respectful place, where all who visit are made aware of the cost of our freedom. The monuments and headstones were impressive and impactful, almost picturesque. Also on the mall of Washington, D.C. is the World War 2 Memorial, which was also impressive. There were gold stars throughout the monument, each representing 100 soldiers who had died. There was the Korean War Monument, with bronze life sized soldiers representing those who served and died in that conflict. But, when we toured the Vietnam Memorial commemorating the 58,000 who died in that war, there was a different feeling for me than any other monument in Washington. Why?
The Vietnam memorial is a wall… a polished black stone wall filled with names…just names…not headstones…just the names of those who died…no dates of birth or death; no mention of rank or branch of service…just the names. When you get up close and view that, and touch the names, one cannot help but be confronted with the reality of sacrifice. Row upon row of names, each saying to all who witness this memorial that someone gave all. Not a star, not a headstone, not a monument…a name. Someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice. To this day, there are men and women who are giving all to protect the world from evil and to defend freedom. There are families who are aching with grief this memorial day because they lost a loved one due to an act of terror or war. I want you to know clearly today that freedom isn’t free! The sacrifice of many has caused our country and the world to experience freedom.
On this memorial day weekend, we are also gathered here today to worship one who gave the ultimate sacrifice for ALL people for ALL time, Jesus, our Lord.
1 John 2:2 (NIV) says: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
There has always been a world war against evil, but I want you to know today that Christ has won! Victory is ours through Christ. The book of Revelation is a prophetic book, but its overriding theme is: Jesus is Lord and the devil is defeated. His sacrifice paid for our spiritual and eternal freedom. For all people… every nation, every race, every color…who come to Christ, there is freedom.
And it’s about a name. Jesus. Not a statue, not a work of art, not a philosophy. A name. Jesus. The ultimate sacrifice. The only one, the only name, who could pay the price for all the world, for all time, so that all have the chance to experience true freedom.
We read about that name in Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)
9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
So what are we called to do in response? What are we asked to do in response to the truth that Jesus is Lord?
The answer: To Die. To Sacrifice.
The first believers were asked to do something. They asked Peter: What must we do to be saved? His response, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
It’s about a name. That name is Jesus. His sacrifice paid the way for our freedom. And what is baptism exactly? It means to die…to be buried…die to sin, bury the past, be done with the old. Rise out of the waters to a new life. A life of freedom from sin, and a freedom to live for our loving savior who pours out his grace on us everyday. Besides that is the eternal blessing of heaven, where we will be together forever as the family of God and experience a world with no more sin, no more war, no more evil, no more sickness, no more tragedy and no more death. THAT will be true freedom!
Yes, we as followers of Jesus are called to die. But we are called to be a living sacrifice as well.
Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
A Christian’s life is marked not by what we receive, but by what we give. Paul challenges us to be a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him.” That means a daily giving of ourselves. A daily offering of ourselves on behalf of our Lord.
But the sacrifice continues in other ways:
Hebrews 13:15 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
A sacrifice of praise. Every day we should be giving of ourselves in praise. Just as a soldier wears a uniform showing they have pledged loyalty to serve our country, the praise of every believer should show the world where our loyalties lie…to openly profess the name of Jesus, so there are no doubts as to the one we serve.
Just last week, the check out clerk at Lowes said to me: “I hope you have a blessed day.” She didn’t have to say that, but it showed the fruit of someone living by the name of Jesus. Just this passed week, I know of several acts of kindness and grace that our church people have shown to others. Each deed is a sacrifice of praise. Each graceful word is a sacrifice of praise. Each praiseworthy attitude and action is a sacrifice of praise.
Are you and I living sacrifices? Do we offer our very lives before the Lord every day? Do we offer our lives by giving of ourselves? Do we show grace? Do we display love? Do we offer forgiveness? Is there a sacrifice of praise being shown by us? Do others know we are Christians by our love, by our words, by our deeds, by our displays of grace?
A sacrifice of praise should be the uniform that we wear, so to speak. It should be obvious to others that we belong to the Savior!
My friend, sacrifice makes the difference. Freedom isn’t free. Our nation is testimony to that. Our spiritual lives are testimony to that. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for us to experience freedom from the penalty of our sins. Our daily sacrifice, offered to him daily, will result in eternal blessing when he comes again.
Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)
…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
There is great value in sacrifice. Freedom only comes through sacrifice.
On this Sunday, I’m most grateful and humbled by those who have given all for our nation’s freedom, but I am also grateful and humbled by the gift of salvation that our Savior brings through his sacrifice for me.
PRAYER
Sermon by David Simpson
