Loyalty, Patriotism, and choosing to serve the One and Only

This year we attended a Veteran’s Honor Flight as they returned to the celebration at the airport, and also the next Honor Flight’s Orientation day which was a month from their flight.  Both of these events were very well done and quite honoring to Veterans and their families.

While we sat before the orientation I would say that most people could probably not truly explain the emotions they would go through as we all watched the slide show of the Veterans from World War 2 through Vietnam, and also listen to the patriotic music which was popular during those eras.

Watching the Veterans who are excited and honored to go on a flight to Washington D.C., watching their happy families with ages from newborns to older than the veterans, seeing the Volunteers doing everything to honor the Veterans and their families, to even the skirl of the Bag Pipes is very special, all of which is full of a range of emotions for those of us “on the outside looking in”.

It is truly difficult to express the depths of emotions, the patriotism, and the loyalty to our nation.

But this is only a shadow, a faded picture of the people whose love, devotion , and honor they choose to give to the One and Only God for the rest of their lives for His marvelous grace through Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins.  The LORD now calls us His children.  We were bought with a price, Jesus blood!

The joy I have witnessed this year on the Veterans’ faces, the Guardians, all the families who love their Vet, and the Volunteers - even the other passengers who are just waiting for their own flights who are at the Airport and are surprised and touched by the reception and comradery for the Vets, this joy is truly indescribable.

Even so, our joy as Believers of the God of the Universe is far beyond what I have experienced.

When we meet up with another Believer we haven’t seen for a while, when we meet a Believer we have never met, or when we meet a Believer we just saw yesterday, we find such unexplainable joy!  It is because we are connected to the LORD, we are related, we understand where each of us have come from, where we are in life, where we will be in life when Jesus returns. Our eternal hope!

Veterans are connected to other Veterans no matter which war or whatever age, but Believers have ties to each other that will last an eternity.  Our “family” is the Body of Believers.  When our human family denies us, we can count on the Body to still be our family, to love and encourage us.

Most of all we have an Awesome God who gave us life - life eternal with Him!  This is such a beautiful connection we have in each other. We are safe together no matter where we are in this world.  On this earth we have begun our eternal life with Him, but the best is yet to be with Him in glory!

Patriotism in the USA in these last generations is many times “tied”  or “woven” into our Christian faith.  It was how our culture use to be. Sadly, this has been fading as our culture has turned away from God.

As the LORD’s child  we are far and above more blessed.  We can praise the LORD for our country which was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but we can praise Him even more for His grace and mercies which He showers on those of us who choose Him!

Who will you choose today?

Joshua 24:14-15
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”