"i'll Walk With God!"

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER

RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK

PowerPoints used with this message are available at no cost. Just email me at mnewland@sstelco.com abd request #427.)

TEXT: Hebrews 11:5-9; Romans 13:7; Genesis 12:1-4

(A big part of the body and some illustrations in this sermon were adapted from a fine sermon by Steve Shepherd, “Veterans of War” that he contributed to Sermon Central.)

INTRO. I watched the funeral service for Colin Powell this last week held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. It was very formal, conducted with almost all the pomp & ceremony of a state funeral.

But I was especially impressed by the expressions of faith, devotion & love of God & his fellow man. The pageantry of the service did not overwhelm its message - that God is alive & does work in the life of anyone who seeks to serve Him in whatever position he may hold.

I believe that the service was a fitting prelude to this week & the fact that this Thursday will be celebrated as "Veterans' Day."

ILL. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman once said, "You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars & I know. I’ve seen cities & homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!"

A. I don’t mean to contradict one who has seen the horror of war, but after considering God’s Word I would have to say that war is not hell. Hell is far worse, but war is hellish.

ILL Consider WW2, for example. It’s basic statistics qualify it as by far the greatest war or perhaps the most hellish war in our history. In all, 61 countries with 1.7 billion people, 3/4th of the world’s population, took part.

The Soviet government calculated that the USSR lost 30% of its national wealth. In Germany, bombing & shelling had produced 5 billion cubic yards of rubble.

The human cost, including nearly 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, is estimated to have been 61 million dead - 25 million of those military & 36 million civilians. (Adapted: Steve Shepherd on Sermon Central)

What can we conclude from all these figures? War is hellish! And all our veterans of every war should be honored for offering their lives in service to our country.

B. Romans13:7 says, "Give honor to whom honor is due."

ILL. On May 13, 1938 the 11th of Nov. of each year became a national holiday - dedicated to peace & known as "Armistice Day."

Armistice Day was primarily set to honor veterans of WW1, but then came WW2 & the largest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines & airmen in our Nation’s history, followed by the Korean war.

So on June 1, 1954, the Act of 1938 was amended by striking out the words "Armistice Day" & replacing them with "Veterans Day."

Thus Nov. 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. I truly believe that they deserve both recognition & honor. God bless all our veterans!

C. Veterans of another kind need to be considered as well.

Philippians 1:27 says, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then… I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel."

We're to contend for the faith of the gospel. The word "contending" carries with it the idea of fighting a battle. Sadly, living for Christ in this world today is something like fighting a war.

Christians are strongly opposed by the attitudes & practices of many in this world today. And there are many veterans of the faith who fought in this battle against the world & deserve to be remem-bered & honored.

PROP. As we remember & honor our military veterans, let’s also consider three godly biblical veterans who have fought the war of faith - Enoch, Noah, & Abraham.

ILL In the early days of photography, when there were few cameras, & when it was a rare event to have one’s photo taken, an evangelist with a party of friends was enjoying a lovely summer afternoon in Glasgow, Scotland.

He carried with him a little leather case containing his Bible. As he walked along, some young people asked, "Please, will you take our picture?" thinking the little leather case contained a small camera.

Without a moment’s hesitation the evangelist said, "Oh, I have one already." The spokesman of the group asked in surprise,"When did you take our picture? You must have taken it when we weren’t looking."

"Well, anyway I have it, & here it is," said the preacher as he pulled out his well-worn Bible & said, "This is God’s photograph of every one of us," as he read Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned & come short of the glory of God."