Under God
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abe Lincoln, Gettysburg address ~
Probably no more fitting tribute to America’s war dead has been paid than these finely crafted words of Abraham Lincoln as part of his Gettysburg address. In a short speech delivered on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of a portion of the field as a cemetery for those killed months earlier Lincoln spoke these magisterial words.
Edward Everett, the main speaker for the day rattled on for two hours. Lincoln’s took mere minutes.
Everett’s thoughts have been forgotten, Lincoln’s have been immortalized. In fact, Everett later wrote Lincoln: “I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”
As we remember in memorial those who have died that we might be free. Let us remember two things.
First, as Lincoln said may we the living take increased devotion to the defense of liberty and the task that yet remains to preserve under God for our offspring these rights. May we cherish the ideals that laid the foundation for this great nation and may we seek to see them preserved in the public square.
Secondly, freedom from the tyranny of men is a great thing to be celebrated, but without freedom from sin and eternal life in Christ- in the end it is only a pipe dream. Christ said He would make us free- not political freedom- but a far greater freedom.
A freedom of soul that comes from sin forgiven and peace with God through the blood of His cross. May we truly memorialize not just the men and women who died to make us free- but more importantly the One who died that we might live.
Because of grace,
Tim
