Aided by the early morning cold and
Oklahoma wind, melon-sized drops of rain crashed in through the small opening
of my poncho and into my face. The loud “left, right, left” calls of the drill
sergeant pierced through the early morning darkness. As we marched on our first
day of basic training, tired and with wet shoes, it hit home the choice I had
made. It is a choice that every soldier, regardless of branch, rank, or era has
made. The choice is to give up our freedom so that others can enjoy theirs.
As a country, thousands of slave
owning men completely sold out for a cause that would free those working for
them. In World War II, allied forces landed on a heavily fortified beach to
shed their blood to pay the cost of liberating France from the grip of tyranny.
Everywhere liberty has been obtained, someone has willing become captive for
that cause.
In the greatest struggle of them
all, mankind’s quest to live forever, the ratio remained the same. Since
shortly after our creation, our ancestors made a willing choice to disobey the
spoken law of the Creator. This choice entangled not only Adam and Eve in the
deep mud of sin, but rooted all of humanity in deficiency. This also separated
us from the Master who loved us and designed us for a relationship with Him. So
in effort to free us from the bondage of our wickedness, God stepped out of
heaven and put on the same flesh as us. Enduring humiliation and death on a
Roman Cross, Jesus Christ gave up his life on cross as a slave to all of our
sin, then after three days He rose from the dead to obtain our eternal freedom;
all for love.
The God who loved us enough to die
for our freedom also loved us enough to give us a choice, because true love is
letting someone go. And it is only after letting them make their own decision
to return the feeling that the joy of love can be felt. In view of God’s love,
we see the soldier who is willing to pay the dues of freedom by taking stand in
the way of those who seek to snatch it away from others. In the same manner
Christ provided grace for those who reject it, a true warrior battles not for
the glory, nor because society deems the cause worthy, but because he
understands that God created man with intentions of him being truly free. And
the soldier with a heart full of love says that is reason enough give his life.
No one has greater love than this,
that someone would lay down his life for his friends. --JOHN 15:13 (HCSB)
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