Military

Thank you! Thank you for loving your country. Thank you for caring about freedom. Thank you for doing a job that few want to do. Thank you for laying your life on the line for my freedom and for the freedom of millions around the world. I know that some do not understand what you do and others do not like what you do but I thank you for what you do. Because of men and women like you, both now and in the past, the United States of America is the safest, most productive, freest and grandest country in the world. I am proud of you, pray for you and thank God for you. You are America’s warriors, America’s freedom-fighters; you are America’s line of defense that keeps the American Dream alive. Thank you.

There is another freedom fighter that was willing to lay down his life for your freedom. His name is Jesus. You may have heard of Him, He left the glories of Heaven to come to a far country called Earth to fight a battle for the souls of men. It was not a battle that He was required to enter. It was a battle that He chose to enter because of love, John 3:16. It was a warfare that He entered on behalf of others who did not deserve His help, Rom. 3:23 & Rom. 5:8. His mercy, His love and His grace compelled Him to get involved in a struggle against sin that mankind, by itself, could not possibly win (Rom. 6:23, “without Christ…having no hope, and without God in the world” – Eph. 2:12). He alone had the power to vanquish the enemy (“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” - Act. 4:12). He alone had the purity to give His life a ransom for others (“for He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” – II Cor. 5:21). Jesus Christ voluntarily went to the cross and gave His life, shed His blood to pay for sin, was buried and then arose again from the dead (“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” Jesus said – John 15:13). This He did for you. This He did for me and for everyone who is willing to put their faith and trust in Him and His finished work on Calvary (“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” – Rom. 10:13) as the payment of their sin and the salvation of their eternal soul.

Soldier, as you fight an ongoing physical battle for freedom Jesus Christ has fought and won the battle for spiritual freedom (“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” – Eph. 6:12). The problem is that mankind is still trying to win the war on its own by religion and good works. Some think that religious rites, rituals, prayers and church membership will win the battle. Some think that doing good deeds, giving to charities and being a just person will win the battle and secure eternal life. Still others ignorantly deny that the war even exists. The Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…”- Titus 3:5. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” – John 14:6. This brave Warrior sits at the right hand of God and offers the free gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who will receive it by faith (“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” - Eph. 2:8-9). Will you, right now wherever you are, reach out by faith and receive this gift by believing on Jesus Christ as your Savior and calling on Him by prayer? Pray something like this, meaningfully from your heart, “Lord Jesus, thank you for winning the battle for my soul. Thank you for being willing to give your life that I might have eternal life. Please forgive my sins and save me as I now put my faith and trust in you and you alone for the salvation of my soul. I take you as my Savior now.”

If you sincerely prayed and trusted Christ as your Savior, upon the authority of the Word of God you have eternal life (“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” - I John 5:13). The next thing you should do is find a good Bible believing church in your area and tell the pastor that you received Christ as your Savior. If you would like more literature about the Christian life or information about a good church in your area please contact the church printed on this tract. Again, thank you for your selfless service to our country and people who love freedom around the world.

By Dr. George Alquist Jr.