Of Heroes and Monuments

We arrived in Washington DC later than planned (imagine that) and spent some time trying to figure out where to park and the best path to begin our historical journey. We began by visiting the National Archives where the “Documents of Freedom” are kept, made more popular by the movie “National Treasure” (which they were selling for $30). We then visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflection Pool, the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and the White House. It was extremely humbling to see the icons of our nation’s history…what these documents and monuments represent and the sacrifices of America’s forefathers. To think that each man, from Jefferson to John Adams and John Hancock to Lincoln to those brave men and women who served in the world wars, took a stand for what they believed was right and fought to establish and maintain our liberty, for generations to come, so that I could live in peace and freedom, is a very overwhelming and awe inspiring feeling. These monuments were erected and established so that we Americans, and the world, would never forget that they sacrificed everything, often their very lives, for each of us, who they have never known. It makes me choke up to think that these men and women loved their country, and me, so much that they gave up so much.

Do we feel the same way when we see and participate in memorials to the Savior of our souls? Many a cross has been erected in the memory of Jesus Christ. We see them every day, on top of church buildings, along the side of highways, even hanging around our necks. We partake of the Lord’s Supper every week, mostly out of habit and duty rather than reverence and humility. We have a copies of the Bible, our spiritual forefathers' historical records, lying all over our houses, but rarely pick it up to read the words that tell us how we gained our freedom from sin and the oppression of Satan. Yet we often fail to stop to reflect on what these monuments represent. The sacrifice of our own Creator to buy us back out of the bondage and slavery of sin. The spiritual war in which Jesus fought and died so that we could enjoy the freedom of being born into God’s family. We wear crosses as ornaments and jewelry and as symbols of love and peace, and forget that crosses were instruments of death.

Let us remember, DAILY, with reverence and awe, that Jesus gave up everything to secure our freedom and our liberty. Let’s pick up our “declaration of dependence” and read of sacrifice, love, honor, obedience, and grace. And most of all, let us approach the throne of God with humility and gratefulness for our hero, our Brother, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!