Veterans’ Day

      Veteran’s Day in the United States of America began as a day of celebration the world over in thanksgiving for the signing of the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I. At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice between the Allies and the Germans and the fighting between the nations ceased. This cessation of hostilities was cause for thanksgiving as the people of the world gave a united sigh of relief. They thought that this was the war to end all wars. No one could imagine that such worldwide hostilities could occur ever again.

      Yet even the name of the Day of celebration, Armistice Day, foretold the truth of the matter. In the American Heritage Dictionary an armistice is defined as: A temporary cessation of fighting by mutual consent; a truce. Yes, even though this armistice ended the fighting of World War I, war continued between the peoples of the world. Even the notion of the end of worldwide war was proven to be a fantastic dream with the hostilities of World War II. Then the Cold War between the USSR and the USA developed. Today the war instigated by Mohammed again encompasses the world in terror. There is no end to the terror of war in this world.

      St. James explains why this is.

      Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3 NKJ)

      Surely this explains the situation rightly. This is why mankind cannot live without fighting and warring against himself. We are never satisfied and so in our individual lives and in our lives as nations of peoples, we fight and we war against ourselves and against one another.

      The decision in the USA to change the celebration of Armistice Day to include a day of remembrance of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for others was a very proper and goodly decision. Truly Veterans’ Day should be counted as a holy day.

      Consider the definition of a veteran. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a veteran first of all as: A person who is long experienced or practiced in an activity or capacity.

      Considering those we remember and honor on Veterans’ Day, of what are they veterans? Of what are they long experienced or practiced? The first notion to come to our minds may be “Fighting.” But this is not correct. Fighting is that of which we ALL are veterans. No, the veterans honored by Veterans’ Day are not veterans of fighting, but of loving and generous self-sacrifice. These veterans go forth onto OUR battlefields and offer themselves in our place. The fight that we have, they take up for us, not because they want to fight, but because they love their fellow countrymen and desire to protect our freedom, even our very lives. They take up our fight, an ongoing fight that continues because mankind lusts for what we do not have. No matter how we struggle we never achieve it for ourselves, but still we fight and go to war. Usually one party is the aggressor. Nevertheless, there never is a truly innocent party in war.

      As we remember and honor the love of our veterans, we are reminded of the one who is the true Veteran of love. He has no lustful desires driving Him to hatred. Love moved Him to enter into a conflict that was not His own. Yet He made it His own for the sake of the ones He loves. He came to our battlefield and entered into the ultimate battle on our behalf. He bore our wounds and our stripes. He carried our burdens. He took our guilt and shame. He was beaten and scourged and mocked as one of us. He was falsely accused of our crimes against humanity. He was falsely condemned for our blasphemous idolatry. He suffered and died and was buried as the unknown soldier. Yet He did not remain dead and buried. He rose again on the Third Day to rule in peace, having ended the war once and for all, for all who recognize His victory and receive the peace that He has won. Even though the war of the world rages on around us on account of stubborn refusal to trust the Prince of Peace, yet for all who will receive it, the war is ended and true peace rules. He is the King of Glory and the true Veteran of love and self-sacrifice. He continues to give Himself through the preaching and life of the Church, through His means of grace. His name is Jesus, and at His name every knee shall bow when He returns to bring an everlasting end to the war of the world, once the message of peace has been received by all who will receive it. Until then, we remember our veterans with honor and thanksgiving to God, and trust our true Veteran and look for His coming to judge the world and bring everlasting righteousness and peace.