Dear Tabernacle Family,
In Hebrews 11:38, the writer states “of whom the world was not worthy.”
This week, America will celebrate Veteran’s Day, a time to honor the GREAT men and women whose lives were interrupted when responding to this country’s call to serve in its military forces. Sadly, many made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives, while others were returned bearing the deep physical and emotional scars of conflict. These very special people had a sense of destiny and the realization that they were answering the call of something greater.
Those called to service didn’t want to go into conflict, but their sense of loyalty to duty and honor was greater than their personal desires and comfort. That has been the history of the men and women of this nation dating back to Colonial times, when they willingly risked everything to stand for righteousness and justice in the land.
In his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln called the nation to be reconciled and healed, so the many lives that were laid down would not be in vain. The battle cry of the Texans was “Remember the Alamo;” the battle cry of WWII was “Remember Pearl Harbor.”
Victory isn’t achieved merely with a battle cry by itself. It requires the response of individuals to win a victory over tyranny. However, the battle cry and the hope of a better day served as encouragement to keep pressing on, despite how things appeared at any point in time. What is often overlooked or discounted in those times of major crises was God’s intervention in our affairs at specific times which prepared the hearts of people for the challenges.
Today, we live in a time when there is little evidence of nobility of thought, nor singleness of purpose. It isn’t enough to agreeably disagree with a message, but also a determination to destroy the messenger. Consequently, we have become fragmented as a people, and in the process, it weakened our ability to withstand attacks from without and within.
Our nation is greatly in need of a people who are called by His Name that are willing to follow the directions of 2 Chronicles 7:14: humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. The promise in return is that He will hear us, forgive our sin and He will heal our land.
The answers to our national problems will not be found in Washington, nor Albany, nor any seat of earthly government, because the core of the issue is primarily in the hearts of the governed. Earthly governments cannot change man’s heart. May we always remember the great victory that was accomplished on the Cross and the empty tomb. Our battle cry to remember is "HE IS LORD!"
As we honor those who have served us and previous generations, may we purpose in our hearts that we will stand for righteousness and justice.
Pastor Allen Baun