This is a message L.A. Meade preached on a Memorial Day in the early 1920's - just after WWI. The truth of his words ring just as true today. We thought you might enjoy reflecting on the timeless truth of PEACE...today, this Memorial Day, as we remember.
“…What have you to do with peace…?” II Kings 9:18
Around this land today, countless millions are meeting in this sacred observance of Memorial Day. In a few more hours the graves will be strewn with blossoms and flowers mingled with tears falling upon their heroic dust. It is fitting that we forget not these fallen heroes and spend time in remembering them.
You will notice the outstanding word in our text is peace. How we love it. How sweet to the ear. The very sound starts melody in our hearts. This word peace originated in Heaven and was one of the first words in the vocabulary of Eden. It is the theme of the poet, the inspiration of the artist, and the aspiration of the saint. If peace has been precious to us as individuals, how much more so as a nation.
Our prosperity, national, commercial, and spiritual, speak louder than words the blessings of peace. Our great arteries of commerce have fed the world unharmed by war. The unbounded growth educationally of our colleges, seminaries, and institutions of learning cry peace. Our mighty and influential industrial life has become powerful in the world with its arms stretching around the globe because of the peace we have had.
Now, peace was bought with a price. Peace at any price is worthless as well as dishonorable. All peace has had its price in blood. Before the morning stars sang together, God Himself saw the price of the peace of men’s souls written in the letters of blood. He took from Heaven its richest treasure, His only begotten Son the Prince of Peace, and spent it on the souls of mankind.
I read of Knox, Huss, Bunyan, Judson, Livingston, who would rather die for their faith than live to be traitors and have no peace. I now hear Washington call the first American Patriots to follow him. They spent their all in the purchase of peace. I hear the Declaration of Independence as the roar of battle ceases and the First Constitutional Convention frames the laws for the self-government of the United States.
And when we think of the 60’s, we think of our Civil War Veterans and we hear them tell the story of the freedom of the slaves of the South and the preservation of the Union. They need but point to the Immortal Lincoln whose life has influenced the destiny of this country above all others. These grand Army men can answer the question of our text by pointing to the 4 million set free. And when we behold their thinning ranks, bent forms, unsteady step and think of the price they paid for our heritage; we thank God for them and pray that the God of peace might lengthen their stay here to see the consummation of their joy.
Theirs is a wonderful history. The Spanish American War, the boys under the poppy fields of France, and all the boys in dusty graves here who gave up their all in this recent war, all answer the question of the text. “What have you to do with peace?”
To the younger generation, the price paid by your forefathers is a challenge to you. You are living in a great day of the world’s history. We find upon waking each morning that there is a new order. Imperial governments totter and fall; Republics are born in a night. There are no greater opportunities than those that are yours in this time that was bought with so dear a price.
May that day soon come when the nations of the earth will beat their spears into ploughshares, their swords into pruning hooks, when nation will not take up the sword against nation or learn war anymore. When peace shall be had from pole to pole and Jesus will reign King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.
Blessings,
Cara & Patti
“…What have you to do with peace…?” II Kings 9:18
Around this land today, countless millions are meeting in this sacred observance of Memorial Day. In a few more hours the graves will be strewn with blossoms and flowers mingled with tears falling upon their heroic dust. It is fitting that we forget not these fallen heroes and spend time in remembering them.
You will notice the outstanding word in our text is peace. How we love it. How sweet to the ear. The very sound starts melody in our hearts. This word peace originated in Heaven and was one of the first words in the vocabulary of Eden. It is the theme of the poet, the inspiration of the artist, and the aspiration of the saint. If peace has been precious to us as individuals, how much more so as a nation.
Our prosperity, national, commercial, and spiritual, speak louder than words the blessings of peace. Our great arteries of commerce have fed the world unharmed by war. The unbounded growth educationally of our colleges, seminaries, and institutions of learning cry peace. Our mighty and influential industrial life has become powerful in the world with its arms stretching around the globe because of the peace we have had.
Now, peace was bought with a price. Peace at any price is worthless as well as dishonorable. All peace has had its price in blood. Before the morning stars sang together, God Himself saw the price of the peace of men’s souls written in the letters of blood. He took from Heaven its richest treasure, His only begotten Son the Prince of Peace, and spent it on the souls of mankind.
I read of Knox, Huss, Bunyan, Judson, Livingston, who would rather die for their faith than live to be traitors and have no peace. I now hear Washington call the first American Patriots to follow him. They spent their all in the purchase of peace. I hear the Declaration of Independence as the roar of battle ceases and the First Constitutional Convention frames the laws for the self-government of the United States.
And when we think of the 60’s, we think of our Civil War Veterans and we hear them tell the story of the freedom of the slaves of the South and the preservation of the Union. They need but point to the Immortal Lincoln whose life has influenced the destiny of this country above all others. These grand Army men can answer the question of our text by pointing to the 4 million set free. And when we behold their thinning ranks, bent forms, unsteady step and think of the price they paid for our heritage; we thank God for them and pray that the God of peace might lengthen their stay here to see the consummation of their joy.
Theirs is a wonderful history. The Spanish American War, the boys under the poppy fields of France, and all the boys in dusty graves here who gave up their all in this recent war, all answer the question of the text. “What have you to do with peace?”
To the younger generation, the price paid by your forefathers is a challenge to you. You are living in a great day of the world’s history. We find upon waking each morning that there is a new order. Imperial governments totter and fall; Republics are born in a night. There are no greater opportunities than those that are yours in this time that was bought with so dear a price.
May that day soon come when the nations of the earth will beat their spears into ploughshares, their swords into pruning hooks, when nation will not take up the sword against nation or learn war anymore. When peace shall be had from pole to pole and Jesus will reign King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.
Blessings,
Cara & Patti
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