A True Memorial

May 31     A True Memorial              Revelation 22:12-21       

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”   (Revelation 22:12-21)                                                     Remembering the past enables us to live in the present and have life for the future….Top of Form  Bottom of FormWhere the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly by Aaron Tippen: Well if you ask me where I come from Here’s what I tell everyone. I was born by God’s dear grace In an extra-ordinary place Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly... It’s a big old land with countless dreams. Happiness ain’t out of reach, Hard work pays off the way it should,  Yea, I’ve seen enough to know that we got it good,  Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly... There’s a lady that stands in a harbor for what we believe And there’s a bell that still echoes the price that it cost to be free. I pledge allegiance to the flag,  And if that bothers you, well that’s too bad, But if you’ve got pride, and you’re proud to do Hey, we can use more like me and you. Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly... Yes, There’s a lady that stands in a harbor for what we believe,  And there’s a bell that still echoes the price that it cost to be free No, it ain’t the only place on earth, It’s the only place that I prefer To love my wife and raise my kid… (Hey) The same way my daddy did Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly... Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly...This was written a few days after the September 11th terrorist attacks. My Daddy was a sailor in the Navy from 1945 until 1955,” and always flew a flag to show his patriotism.  I learned to love God and to love my country from him and he made sure that I understood the price that had been paid for my freedoms.  Toby Keith’s lyrics continue with…American Girls and American Guys We’ll always stand up and salute We’ll always recognize When we see Old Glory Flying There’s a lot of men dead So we can sleep in peace at night When we lay down our head. My daddy served in the army Where he lost his right eye But he flew a flag out in our yard. Until the day that he died He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me, To grow up and live happy In the land of the free.  I CAN’T ALWAYS REMEMBER EVERYTHING… Remembering is sometimes hard work. On this Memorial Day, we celebrate our heritage, the truth that we are free today because many died for our freedom. We celebrate sacrifice. We remember that we have what we have because of the ultimate sacrifice of lives laid down so that we could be free. Memorial Day is also a time to remember the Gospel story, to remember the ultimate sacrifice of the perfect life laid down so that we might be eternally free. Remembering the past enables us to live in the present and have life for the future. REMEMBER, I AM COMING SOON!! (22:12)   Coming soon is a promise… Our scripture for today, begins with the promise of the future and a call to remember the past. Jesus had told the disciples HE would come again and in the end of John 21:22 and the beginning of Acts 1:11, we hear the promise of this coming future.  Coming soon is a time frame: But when would HE come? The question is still asked today.  Coming Soon is a call to commitment!   Are you ready for His return?   Will it be a day of celebration or despair?  HE is coming back so we better live like it! REMEMBERING THE GOSPEL IS REMEMBERING JESUS IS COMING SOON…  REMEMBER THE GOSPEL IS REMEMBERING ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!                                                                                               REMEMBER, ALL ARE WELCOME! Welcome is the Gospel                                                                                                        The Gospel is still good news!!  The Gospel is still John 3: 16 and 17!!  The Gospel is our entrance into eternity with Jesus!  The Gospel is “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and my go through the gates into the city (vv. 14).”  Welcome is the invitation. “The Spirit and the bride say; ‘Come!’ and let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (vv. 17).” Have you ever heard a better invitation than that?  3. The Spirit and the bride call you to come!! Those that have heard the call, call you to come!! If you are thirsty for the salvation of God, Come!! WHOEVER WISHES COME!!! IT IS FREE!!  Just like our dinner Wednesday night, IT IS FREE FOR THE TAKING!! Are you ready to come?  “I watched the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze A young Marine saluted it, and then He stood at ease. I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud With hair cut square and eyes alert He’d stand out in any crowd. I thought, how many men like him Had fallen through the years? How many died on foreign soil? How many mothers’ tears? How many Pilots’ planes shot down? How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves? No, Freedom is not free. I heard the sound of taps one night, When everything was still. I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill. I wondered just how many times That taps had meant "Amen" When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard at the bottom of the sea Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, Freedom isn’t free!!”  TRUTH: REMEMBERING THE GOSPEL IS REMEMBERING THAT ALL ARE WELCOME BECAUSE HE PAID THE PRICE! This is the same truth we celebrate on Memorial Day! All are welcome here in this land of democracy because a great price has been paid!! Many men and women gave unselfishly that we might live in a free country where you are truly free!! Jesus offers us a freedom beyond freedom. It too came at a great price, the greatest price ever paid, one who knew no sin died on behalf of all sinners! What do you remember today? Will you remember those that died that we might live? Will you also remember the Gospel? The truth that Jesus paid it all that we might live not only hear and now, but for eternity?? WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?? Stay Strong, Stay Focused…. THE BEST IS YET TO BE!