REMEMBERING THE COST!

                                                                     Malachi 3:13-4:3

INTRODUCTION: Tomorrow, we as a nation will pause to honor our hero’s; those who have

given their lives to protect our home land, to protect our families and our family’s freedoms. It

was in 1868 that a declaration was made by President Andrew Johnson, that May 30th would be

a day to decorate with flowers, the graves of union soldiers. After World War 1, that day was

set aside to honor all of those killed in all our wars and also to pay homage to deceased

relatives and friends. We need to praise our God for all those special people in our lives that

have given us the freedoms we have and the cherished memories we hold in our hearts today:

James 1:17: Poem: It Is the Veteran.

I. HOW MANY VETERANS HAVE DIED TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS?

To date 2,852,901 men and women have died to keep this nation free. We are free today

because in years gone by men and women paid the price to purchase our freedoms in their own

blood. We are grateful for our freedoms today but we must remember that are freedoms were

not free: Our Lord Jesus said: John 15:13.

II. OUR MEMORIES!

Many of those we will remember tomorrow with honor will be remembered for flooding

our lives with peace, joy, and thankfulness. How will others remember us? We are making

those memories right now. Our most precious remembrance on Memorial Day should be our

God, Himself. Deuteronomy 8:11-20.

III. OUR GOD’S BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE!

Our God has told us that He has a Book of Remembrance as well: Malachi 3:13-18. The

distinction between those who fear God and those who do not may not seem very vivid today

but God has told us He also has a Memorial Day coming and the difference between those who

fear the Lord and those who do not will be very clear. God has a Memorial Day for both the

righteous and for the unrighteous: Daniel 12:2. God’s Memorial Day for the righteous:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 22:12. God’s Memorial Day for

the unrighteous: Revelations 20:11-15. Do you think it might be a good idea to get your name

written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Revelations 21:27. How can you get your name in the

Lamb’s Book of Life? Romans 10:9-10, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:21. How will God remember you?

Will He remember you as one who’s name is written in His book of Life: As one of His own

blood bought children?