Pearl Harbor Day

I will admit I don’t know American history as well as I should. When I was growing up I just couldn’t relate to the “big deal” people made about Pearl Harbor. Well, I will forever understand now that we’ve had another “Pearl Harbor” in 9/11. Just as I’ve heard many times people who could tell me exactly where they were, exactly what they were doing when Pearl Harbor was bombed, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I saw the smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center towers.

In a way that seems like a long time ago. But we must never forget. Those who died from the attacks in 1941 and 2001 were victims of unjust men. We are blessed to live in a country that protects liberty. If we forget the past we will succumb to more unjust attacks. We must also remember in order to honor the fallen. Ours is a resilient nation and it is because there are people willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

As Christians we can be grateful for the blessings God has given us in living in a free country. Yet, even if liberty is taken away from us in this life, we are still free in Christ. Especially we remember the suffering and death of our Lord and Savior. If we forget that, where do we have hope for salvation? Just as our country rose from the ashes of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 our Lord rose from the grave on Easter Sunday that we may have freedom of sins forgiven. Those who died unjustly have not died in vain if we do not forget. Our Lord has not died in vain either because His unjust death means life for the world. Imagine, liberty from the bondage of sin and death. It is freely given by God in Jesus Christ.