Memorial Day: A day for remembering. Originally for remembering those who died in military service. I believe we too often take our freedom for granted. But many men and women have paid the ultimate price for the freedom we now enjoy. And I am sorry to say are in danger of losing.

Memorial day is also a day to remember all loved ones who have gone on. There is great value in remembering loved ones who have died. There are lessons to be learned from them. Often the faith they demonstrated in life refreshes out faith.

Let’s look at a man called Abel. We find his story in (Gen. 4: 1-8). Man was not on earth long before war broke out. Able was the first casualty in a righteous cause. Man’s sinful nature causes this tragedy over and over again. This fallen son speaks to us today. Let’s go to his grave and read his marker. What message does Abel have for us on Memorial Day?

Abel speaks to us of:

    1. We see the fall of man in chapter 3. And then violence breaks

         out in chapter 4

        A. The answer to why we have so many problems today in found

              in the first four chapters of the book of Genesis. In chapters 1

             and 2 we see God creating the world and all that we know. In

             Chapter 3 we witness the fall of man. In chapter 4 we see the

             result of the fall of man. Violence breaks out in chapter 4 and

             continues on until this day.

    2. Sin is “the” problem in society today.

        A. Attempts to fix society’s problems apart from this knowledge

             fail.

      B. We are all sinners (Rom. 3:9-12;23) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

     3. Jesus gave us a look into the sinful heart of man.

         (Mat.15:18-19) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

    4. This is the reason for all war, oppression, and greed.

    5. Christ came to pay for sins and change our hearts, that we might

         be born again.  (II. Cort. 5:17)

    1. He was a young man when he died.

    2. How quickly life passes

        A. Seventy to eighty years is still the norm (Psa. 90:10) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

       B. Good advice, “Teach us to number our days” (Psa. 90:12) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

    3. But Jesus offers us eternal life. (JH. 3:16,5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

    4. Are you prepared for eternity?

    1. Though young, he was ready to meet God.

    2. He came to God with his sacrifice in faith. (Heb. 11:4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

    3. We must also come to God in faith, to be saved, to

        be born again, and to have eternal life in heaven.

        A. There is not other way of salvation. (Rom. 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

    1. He lived but a short time, but he still speaks

    2. The length of the faith life cannot be limited by physical death.

        A. Consider the impact of the lives of the apostles.

        B. Heroes of the faith influence us long after their death.

        C. Who do you know whose impact for Christ has remained?

              Still speaks to you?

    3. What are you doing to endure? To speak to your children,

         grandchildren in the future?

    4. Will some love one in the future give their lives to Christ and be

         eternally saved because of your life. The live you are living right

         now?

These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country. But he that stands, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph.

Thomas Pine 1776