On Memorial Day we honor those who left family and country to serve selflessly and to give their lives to defend our freedom. What motivated them to be willing to serve and to lay “their lives on the line”, if need be? Could it be the hope of continued freedom, a brighter future for their family, national and world peace, or a determination that those who served their country before them, did not serve, nor die in vain?

In 1965, Naval Aviator James B Stockdale became one of the first American pilots to be shot down in the Vietnam War. As a prisoner of the Vietcong, he spent seven years as a POW, during which he was frequently tortured in an attempt to break him and get him to denounce the US involvement in the war. He was chained for days at a time with his hands above his head so that he could not even swat the mosquitoes. Today he still cannot bend his left knee and walks with a limp from having his legs broken and never reset. One of the worst things that he suffered was isolation from other POW’s.

How could anyone survive seven years of such treatment? Stockdale says that it was hope that kept him alive. Hope of one day going home, that each day could be the day of his release. Without hope, he knew that he would die in hopelessness as others had done. Hope can keep us alive when nothing else can.

“And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love” (I Corinthians 13:13).

Repentant sinners who have put their faith in Christ commemorate the ultimate memorial day. Because Jesus Christ willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world, we can have the hope of eternal life. (See Romans 5:6-10.) The night in which Jesus was betrayed, He instituted “The Lord’s Supper”, called by some the “Last Supper” or “Holy Communion”. “…He took bread and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me.’ After the same manner also He took the cup…saying, ‘This do ye in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death ‘til he come” (I Corinthians 11:23-26).

The Criswell Study Bible gives six truths that the memorial of communion symbolizes and communicates: 1) it is a memorial to remind us of the central truth in Christianity – the atonement of Christ (vv 24, 25); 2) the fellowship of Christ’s body (v18); 3) a diagnostic feast in which the believer examines his own walk with Christ (v28); 4) a feast of thanksgiving for salvation (v24); 5) a witness to Christ’s death (v26); and 6) a feast of hope (v26).

Christ arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. He is coming back again and gives us the hope of the resurrection and eternal life (I Corinthians 15).

Is there really hope for peace on earth? The assurance is given to us that one day the Prince of Peace will come to reign upon earth. He will usher in a 1,000 years of peace. The government will be upon His shoulders. (See Isaiah 9:5-7.) “…And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 3:4).

The ultimate Memorial Day is yet to take place. It is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All of God’s children who put their faith in Christ as Savior and Lord will participate in that living memorial supper around the table of the heavenly bridegroom – Jesus (Revelation 19:6-10).

You can have that hope of the ultimate Memorial Day.

A - Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)