“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in HIm should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

On this Memorial Day Monday, I’m including part of a news story last night which showed hundreds of people participating in “Carry the Load.” It came out of a former Navy SEAL’s conviction that we who enjoy so many freedoms in this country need to remember those who sacrificed their lives for those freedoms.

A few years ago, former Navy SEAL and war veteran Clint Bruce sat at a barbecue on Memorial Day. As he thought about his friends he lost in combat, he couldn’t help but notice that the people around him had a very different view of what Memorial Day meant. To some it was a party. To others, a day off of work. Not knowing what else to do, Clint came up with a way to honor his fallen brethren, and share in the pain that they went through to give us our freedom. He decided to do what he did most when he was protecting our country along side the buddies he lost. Clint strapped on his pack and began walking, all the while thinking about the guys that sacrificed for him, and for you. As he walked, he encountered another veteran, an older gentleman who knew exactly why, and exactly what Bruce was doing without either of them speaking a word. With understanding and wisdom the man simply said, “Son, who are you carrying?” And with those five words, Carry The Load was born. http://carrytheload.org/about/#

 Mr. Bruce’s idea has grown into local “walks” mostly along the East Coast. People carry names of fallen service men and women on placards,   remember family veterans of every generation, and hold American flags. Some walkers carry very heavy military back packs as a visible sign of the weight others bear for us in war and conflicts, weight which crushes them with loneliness, fear and too often death.

It’s an honorable way  to celebrate Memorial Day and I’m touched by Mr. Bruce’s efforts   to turn the usual  holiday activities nto something more meaningful. The stark reminder is that peace comes at a sacrifice and freedom is not free.

On of my pastors has taught me, “as in the natural, so in the spiritual. The people walking with  laden back packs made me think of something else. Or rather Someone. “ I think of the Lord Jesus’ life and His ultimate sacrifice. I think of the weight He carried to save us from Satan’s power over us in death.

Was there ever a weight more heavy than the cross which Jesus carried to Golgotha? Was there ever a sacrifice greater than Jesus who laid down His life for his friends because He loved them?
As He hung on the cross, Jesus carried the entire world of sinners upon Himself, not just names of those who were close to Him. The weight of that was so utterly crushing He cried out to God in David’s  words: ” My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” As God separated Himself from Jesus because of man’s sin, Jesus’ despair and loneliness are unimaginable.

The Good News is that Jesus was victorious  on the spiritual battlefield. Unlike our fallen world where warriors often do not come back from wars and hostile territory, Jesus overcame death and the grave. His tomb is empty. He is risen, He is not here. Because of Him, in Him, and through Him, “Death where is your sting?”

Has there   ever been a victory greater than the one which Jesus won over Satan?  Is there any freedom more important than the freedom from sin’s bondage or  the promise of eternal life?  What Warrior is greater than Jesus, the victorious Prince of Peace who brings peace “not as the world would know it”, but reconciling peace with the Father?

Before the beginning of time, God the Father already had the plan of salvation for the world. Before the fall in the Garden, He already knew the answer to “Son, Whom are you carrying? “ It was you and me. Through His obedience, the Son of God carried the world to the cross. By accepting Him as Lord and Savior, we’re given freedom, joy and eternal life with God.   That’s worth celebrating every hour, every day. Memorial Day is for those who’ve died in earthly battles, but for everyone born again to life in Christ, we celebrate Him who carried us.

EAG