“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Every true act of courage, sacrifice, and service reflects a moral imprint of God’s own character. Veterans who gave or risked their lives for others show a shadow of that greater love that was fulfilled at the cross. Their valor preserves order in a fallen world, yet only Christ’s valor redeems it.
Civil defense is one of God’s instruments of common grace. The sword of justice exists to restrain evil and protect peace (Romans 13:4). Those who bear it lawfully serve under His providence, whether they know it or not. But courage apart from Christ is still temporary. Nations rise and fall, and even the noblest sacrifices cannot conquer sin. Gratitude that ends with man stops short of worship. So let us give thanks this Veterans Day not only for those who fought to preserve peace, but for the Prince of Peace who makes it lasting. Every medal and memory of courage points beyond the battlefield to the cross, where victory was won once for all.
The Christian who honors veterans must look higher. Christ is the warrior who laid down His life to destroy the last enemy, death itself. His obedience secured everlasting peace by redeeming his enemies. To thank soldiers rightly is to thank the Savior who gives courage its meaning, turns duty into worship, and transforms temporary valor into eternal glory.
Semper Reformanda
Objection: “Honoring veterans is just nationalism.”
Response: Giving thanks for defenders of justice is recognition of God’s providence in preserving peace. True patriotism sees every victory as mercy and every life laid down as a reminder that all nations must bow to Christ.
Objection: “Faith and service should stay separate.”
Response: Scripture never divides them. Every calling, whether in battle or in the home, is sacred when done unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). To serve lawfully is to serve God. To forget Him is to lose the reason for serving at all.
Truth That Withstands
Courage, duty, and sacrifice are good gifts only when they serve the King who first laid down His life. To honor veterans rightly is to remember the Lord who defines valor and grants peace that no war can win.
Shortlink: reformlets.com/veterans