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THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER In Arlington National Cemetery rests the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This tomb stands as a national memorial to the thousands of American soldiers who have died in war. There are thousands of good men who have suffered and died in battle, only to be forgotten by their fellow countrymen. Over 400,000 soldiers lost their lives in World War II, but how many can you name? Over 33,000 men died in the Korean War, but how many can you name? Vietnam brought about the death of some 58,000 American soldiers. Can you name ten of them? Let’s face it: we can name more movie stars and sports figures than American soldiers. The sad fact is that we, as Americans, have taken our freedom for granted with very little appreciation for those who have sacrificed so much, even their very lives, to ensure our liberty. The many thousands of unknown soldiers in our nation’s history will, for the most part, remain unknown. Life will go on, and most of the brave soldiers who have sacrificed for our freedom will be forgotten by most Americans. However, friend, there is one soldier whom you cannot afford to forget. There is one soldier who suffered, bled, and died for you PERSONALLY. That’s right. There is one soldier who spent thirty-three years on a foreign battlefield and then died just for you. This good soldier obeyed his orders, left his own home, completed his mission, and then laid down his honorable life just so you could be free. Who is he? He’s the beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus left his glorious home in heaven to come to this earth and die for your sins. He shed his blood and died to save you from a burning hell. Will you show your appreciation by placing your trust in him, or will you dishonor him by ignoring the great sacrifice that he made for you? “Why,” you may ask, “did Jesus have to die for me?” He died for you because you are a sinner: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) You were born with a sin nature, just as all men are, so Jesus Christ came to REDEEM you from your fallen sinful condition. Satan is a thief who has led mankind into sin, death, and hell, but Jesus Christ came to lead men back to heaven. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus bled and died so that YOU could have ETERNAL LIFE. He was a good soldier indeed! Now, please notice these inspired words from Romans 5:6-10: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Read it again, please. Friend, Jesus Christ was much more than a good soldier. A good soldier will die for other good men, but Jesus Christ died for his EMEMIES! You, as a sinner in this world, are an enemy of God (James 4:4; Col. 1:21), but Jesus still came and died for you! Jesus is a GREAT soldier! He’s the greatest soldier to ever live. In fact, God the Father in heaven was so pleased with Jesus Christ that he RAISED him from the dead after three days in the tomb! The Bible says that “ . . . Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (I Cor. 15:3-4) Many soldiers have died for their country, but none have ever walked out on death. Jesus Christ came up from the grave - a victor over death - to offer eternal life to all who believe on him. He is now the CAPTAIN of our salvation (Heb. 2:10)! Jesus said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev. 1:18) Do YOU want to walk out on death one day? Jesus Christ has the keys! Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE (John 14:6). Why not confess that you are a lost sinner and that you need a living Saviour today? Why not show your appreciation to the greatest Soldier to ever live by joining his army today? Why not turn your back on the devil and fight the good fight for Jesus Christ? Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” You cannot save yourself. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash your sins away: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Rom. 3:24-25) Friend, if you could earn your salvation, then Jesus came and died for NOTHING. If God wanted you to “do good” and earn your salvation, then he would have never sent his Son to pay for your sins! Friend, just as a military victory can establish national freedom for millions of people, Christ’s victory over sin and death can establish SPIRITUAL freedom for you. Because of Jesus, your sins can be washed away and forgiven FOREVER! “. . . Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” (Rev. 1:5) Why not make Jesus Christ YOUR Captain right now? Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Why not bow your head right now and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and wash your sins away? You won’t find a better friend anywhere! He DIED for you, and he AROSE for you! Now he invites you to be his very own. Will you call upon him today, or will you let him fade into the past like an unknown soldier? “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13) If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, start looking for a Bible-believing church and speak with the pastor about baptism, church membership, and how you can be a good soldier for Jesus Christ.