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Article Archive |
2009
Those Who Honor Me
By Jim Morris
“Let us have a moment of silent prayer for our soldiers who are missing in action or who have lost their lives in service to our God and our country,” said the voice over my high school’s PA system. On occasion, the speaker would also read out the names of the former students who had sacrificed much at Vietnam. My home room teacher would wipe tears from her eyes as the speaker read the names of the students she knew.
In 1972, the high school counselor gave us our options for post high school careers. Funny, but I could not seem to think about life after school in those days.
“Well, Morris, what is it going to be?” he asked earnestly. “Army , Air Force, Navy or Marines?”
“Army, I guess,” was the only thing I could say. My peers were asking, “What would happen if we didn’t go?” “I’m going to Canada!” whined several of my friends. The haunting question for me was, “What would I do if the lot feel on me to go to war? Would I honor my family, my country, and my God?”
Before I graduated in 1973, the draft was stopped. Life seemed good again. Hope for a future was rekindled. I married the love of my life. And yet, the question continued to linger in the back of my mind, “What would I do if called upon to serve?”
In 1976, I put an end to the question. I volunteered to serve in the United States Army as a non-commissioned military police officer. It was a tough decision to make. Fear had to be overridden by faith and honor. In the end, honor won.
Honor is a principle that has its roots deep in the core of our personalities and character. I believe that God tests us from time to time to search for that noble trait. When He finds honor in us He may allow us to stand within various trials to draw it out and to perfect it.
In the book of 1 Samuel, Hophni and Phineas are two young men who failed the test. Though they are the sons of Israel’s most honored man and custodian of the Ark of God, the Bible says, “Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:12). They sinned by taking the best part of God’s sacrifices (2:13-16) and by committing immorality at God’s house (2:22). Even when their father rebuked them they would not listen (2:22-25). When Eli allowed his sons to continue to sin the Lord finally sent a servant saying, “Why do you honor your sons more than me...” (2:29b). God deserves honor!
When we are put to the test will we take the easy path of selfishness and wickedness, or the difficult path of sacrifice and honor? The Lord declares, “Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained,” (1 Samuel 2:30b).
06-10-09
# 23
