Ensign: Faithful Unto Death
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3
AN ENSIGN ON THE
MOUNTAINS 29 August 2014
Three days ago, the White House announced that next month three men will receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor that anyone in the United States can receive. Two are Vietnam War veterans; one is still alive and will travel to Washington to receive it from President Obama himself, and one is dead so he will receive the award posthumously. (That's your ten-dollar word for after death.)
The third recipient will also receive the Medal of Honor posthumously; and like the Vietnam veteran he also died in the duty. Alonzo Cushing has also been getting the most press of the three men because of when and where he fought -- not to denigrate any sacrifice members of our armed forces make in the line of duty, but Cushing was shot through the mouth and the bullet came out the back of his head as he led the defense of Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge. At Gettysburg, 1863.
The effort to have Cushing awarded the Medal of Honor have gone on for decades. Unless you're a native in or near Delafield, Wisconsin where Cushing was born, the first question is WHY the effort to give an award to someone dead for more than a century? This is what the cynic and conspiracy theorist in me said, I'll admit. Cui bono? (By the way, that's Latin for "who benefits?", but I digress.) But then something else which brought up today's title and this message caught my attention.
You will find Brevet -- that's a rank conferred upon an officer for exceptional conduct in military service -- Lieutenant Colonel Cushing's grave at West Point Cemetery in Section 26, Row A, Grave 7. It is marked by a headstone with his name, his command, and the date of his death where he fell in battle, which as we read before was at Gettysburg. And beneath THAT, commissioned by his mother, is the inscription "Faithful Unto Death".
That sounded familiar, almost like something out of Paul's letters in the New Testament, and I snuck into a Biblical concordance but couldn't find the phrase -- in Paul's letters, anyway. NO, this is something Jesus Himself says to one of the churches (read in the New Testament context of "assemblies of believers", not "buildings with steeples"), specifically church number two in Smyrna, which is also said to represent the church under persecution. But you be the judge of that ...
Three days ago, the White House announced that next month three men will receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor that anyone in the United States can receive. Two are Vietnam War veterans; one is still alive and will travel to Washington to receive it from President Obama himself, and one is dead so he will receive the award posthumously. (That's your ten-dollar word for after death.)
The third recipient will also receive the Medal of Honor posthumously; and like the Vietnam veteran he also died in the duty. Alonzo Cushing has also been getting the most press of the three men because of when and where he fought -- not to denigrate any sacrifice members of our armed forces make in the line of duty, but Cushing was shot through the mouth and the bullet came out the back of his head as he led the defense of Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge. At Gettysburg, 1863.
The effort to have Cushing awarded the Medal of Honor have gone on for decades. Unless you're a native in or near Delafield, Wisconsin where Cushing was born, the first question is WHY the effort to give an award to someone dead for more than a century? This is what the cynic and conspiracy theorist in me said, I'll admit. Cui bono? (By the way, that's Latin for "who benefits?", but I digress.) But then something else which brought up today's title and this message caught my attention.
You will find Brevet -- that's a rank conferred upon an officer for exceptional conduct in military service -- Lieutenant Colonel Cushing's grave at West Point Cemetery in Section 26, Row A, Grave 7. It is marked by a headstone with his name, his command, and the date of his death where he fell in battle, which as we read before was at Gettysburg. And beneath THAT, commissioned by his mother, is the inscription "Faithful Unto Death".
That sounded familiar, almost like something out of Paul's letters in the New Testament, and I snuck into a Biblical concordance but couldn't find the phrase -- in Paul's letters, anyway. NO, this is something Jesus Himself says to one of the churches (read in the New Testament context of "assemblies of believers", not "buildings with steeples"), specifically church number two in Smyrna, which is also said to represent the church under persecution. But you be the judge of that ...
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:8-11, also the shortest of the seven letters (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea), may be the biggest challenge for us too. It's easy for you and I to be faithful when there's something in it for us, even when we're not living a lifestyle remotely rich or famous. But what happens when you and I enter Job's sandals and lose everything but our Lord. HE will never leave us nor forsake us, but can we say the same?
Can you and I be faithful unto death?
David
David
P.S. I write this
weekly devotional to keep in touch with all of you in my address
book, and I hope to be an encourager to action too! If you find that
I'm not or you want me to get lost, just let me know -- thank you!
Thank You, Lord,
that we can come to You in prayer and that You provide for all our
needs, even when we don't know what they are. We pray for the peace
of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence there and around the world.
Thank You, Lord, for
everyone in leadership and service, both here and abroad. Thank You
for the opportunities we have and the promise of new life! I pray
that we all seek and have a blessed week. Amen.
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