So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36
It is tomorrow. Tomorrow if the Lord is willing, some of us, most of us but perhaps not all of us, will open our eyes to a brand-new day. The Bible says that every day is a day that the Lord makes and that…makes it special. We should pause and rejoice over every single one. But the truth is some days are more special that others…and tomorrow is one of those. So just about now you might be wondering, “So what is it?” Is it a birthday? Perhaps a wedding anniversary? Is it marked by the passing of a loved one or a major life change? Well, the answer is, “None of those.” So, what makes tomorrow so special? Tomorrow is Flag Day.
What is Flag Day? Well, as the name implies, it is a day that we honor the flag of our country, “Old Glory.” Now we might as well be clear because these days people are way unclear on too many things. Because we have a day dedicated to honoring the flag of our country does not mean we are worshipping it. You see you can honor something without worshipping it. We honor the flag not because it is a piece of fabric made with a certain design and colors…no we honor it because it stands for so much. You see, in the Bible, a name was more than a name. It represented the character of a person. As an example, the reason it is such a grievous sin to misuse God’s name is because His name represents Him…who He is. In the same way the flag represents our great country.
A man, a United States Marine, a citizen named Howard Schnauber once wrote a story about Old Glory. Here’s how it goes. “I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop some of the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. solI am recognized all over the world. I am saluted. I am loved – I am revered. I am respected – I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I flew at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me. I was there. I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me on. I have been burned, torn, and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn, and trampled in the streets of my country. And when it’s done by those whom I’ve served in battle – it hurts. But I shall overcome – for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have born silent witness to all of America’s finest hours, but many fine hours are yet to come. When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at half-mast to honor a soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. I am the flag of the United States of America.
So, June 14th, this Flag Day, take a moment and thank God for the country that we live in…for our freedoms and all the sacrifices that were made so that we could be free. Jesus said that knowing Him truly makes a man, woman, or child free and that is so true. But along those same tracks lie the truth that in America, even with all her warts and flaws, we can still worship the one true God and I am so grateful for that. I am grateful for the God who sovereignly choose to bless us and can sovereignly declare, “I’ve got that.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 