Today is Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11 became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day. (This according to History.com)
Today we honor our veterans, those men and women who have served in all branches of the Armed Forces, who have given of themselves to keep us safe and free. They served in wars, conflicts, police actions, covert operations, and during times of peace. They and their families sacrificed much, sometimes giving the ultimate sacrifice of life itself. We should give them honor today and every day. Take time to thank a vet, buy their coffee, pay for their meal, pray for them. It is the very least we can do.
Veterans Day always reminds me, however, that while mankind oversees this world, there will be no lasting peace. No matter how much we try, no matter how much our men and women sacrifice, peace is a temporary pause between conflicts. We have home-grown and global terrorists. We have conflicts among groups, tribes and nations which always threaten peace. Some countries have nuclear weapons, other countries want them. We proclaim peace, peace, as God reminded Jeremiah, “when there is no peace.” [6:14]
Yet, we can have true, eternal, ultimate peace if we want it. It is available to us, God Himself invites us to partake of it. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” [Rom 5:1-2]
Peace with God is ours because of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. We gain access to this lasting peace by faith through grace. In that peace, we can stand now … even in the midst of this unpeaceful world in which we live. Glory.
