Monday, May 30, 2005
Galatians 2:20 The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me.
HE DIED FOR ME
During the last year of the Civil War, a man paid a visit to the battlefield of Chicamauga, where on the 20th of September, 1863, the Union army was almost destroyed. At that time the battlefield was not a beautiful place with stately monuments rising among the trees. Then it still bore the scars of war. Over one of the newly made graves, the visitor saw a man on his knees planting flowers. The visitor said to the man, "Is it a son who is buried there?" And the man said "No it's not a son" -- and then went on to explain why he was there to decorate the grave.
He said that he had been drafted into the Confederate army, but just before he was ready to say "good-bye" to his loved ones a young man came to him and said, "You have a wife and family, and when you are gone, you'll be unable to support them, whereas I am unmarried and have no one depending on me. Let me go in your place." The offer was accepted. At the Battle of Chicamauga the substitute soldier was mortally wounded. The news of his death reached the man whose place he had taken. As soon as he had saved enough money, he made the journey to Chicamauga, and there he found the grave of his friend with its crude marker.
The visitor, touched by the narrative, continued on his way to another part of the grim battlefield. But on his return he passed this same grave again. It was now well covered with flowers and on a rough board, at the head of the grave, were carved these four words, "He died for me."
On this Memorial Day let us remember to thank God for those men and women who "gave the last measure of devotion" to secure and preserve the freedoms we enjoy every day. At the same time let us not fail to thoughtfully remember the ultimate of ultimate sacrifices -- the One made by Jesus Christ, our great Substitute. With His death He has purchased for us freedom from the curse of sin -- yes, from death itself.
Since death could not hold Him there is no grave to mark where Christ died in your place. You need not make a long journey to show your gratitude with engraved letters. Rather, carve into your very life those four words: He died for me.
