Jesus Christ -God's Greatest Soldier!

Our Memorial Day Observance reminds unfortunately today that -War in an unfortunate and inevitable part of life!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: -NIV

Ecclesiastes 3:2a a time to be born and a time to die, -NIV

Ecclesiastes 3:3b a time to kill and a time to heal, -NIV

Ecclesiastes 3:8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. -NIV

Some Americans were vividly reminded of this at the sunrise of a Sunday morning, on December 7, 1941, when 353 Japanese war planes flew through a mountain pass over the island of Oahu in order to conduct a surprise military strike upon the United States (which was a country that was a neutral country at a time of war). The attack was against a naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft (which included fighter planes, level and dive bomber plains, and torpedo bombers). The attack came in two waves, from planes that were launched from six aircraft carriers.

Eight battleships and 10 smaller warships were sunk or put out of commission. A total of 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded.

Japan announced declarations of war on the United States and the British Empire later that day in Tokyo. The British government declared war on Japan immediately after learning that their territory had also been attacked. The following day the United States Congress declared war on Japan.

On December 11, despite the fact they had no formal obligation to do so under the Tripartite Pact with Japan, Germany and Italy each declared war on the U.S., which responded with a declaration of war against Germany and Italy.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt opening remarks in a speech he made the following the day after the attack were; “Mr. Vice President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives: YESTERDAY, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “ No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God.”

In the days ensuing that attack hundreds of thousands Americans rushed to enlist in the armed forces. The national battle cry with which the United States entered World War II was "Remember Pearl Harbor!" And upon that battle-cry the US and her allies went onto eventual victory!

NOW WHY DID I REHEARSE FOR YOU THAT STORY? In order to present to you a powerful life principle which is this – REMEBERING! Remembering can be a very powerful exercise It can stabilize us, comfort and assure us, deliver us, motivate us, move us forward into this war-torn existence we call life!

It can inspire us and cause us to stay faithful on the path that God has called us!

It can cause us to appreciate, and ever appropriate the sacrifice that others have made on our behalf, and even motivate us to perpetuate and promote what others have done.

Having said all that although Memorial Day is an American Holiday, and there have been many highly decorated great soldiers in the history of America, as well as hero’s from other countries around the world and throughout history. But today I would like to take this occasion for us to remember the battle of all battles, the war of all wars, the soldier of all soldiers, who instructed to remember, to never forget, the sacrifice he made for us. In-fact he was so adamant about that that he instituted an ordinance to insure that we never would! The ordinance is called the Lord’s Supper, let me read the words for you if I may…

Luke 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.