Veterans Day

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Veterans Day

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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PREACHING THROUGH THE CALENDAR (14)

 

This year, I have been presenting lessons based upon our calendar.  It has been awhile since I presented a lesson in this series.  My premise in these lessons is to address subjects that are on our mind as we look at our calendar.

As we have noted with each of these lessons, this is not about the church here celebrating these days.  The New Testament makes no provision for special holiday observances (unlike the Old Testament which addressed the physical nation of Israel), so what we do on any given Sunday is seeking to follow the simple pattern of worship God has prescribed for us.  However, as we look at our calendar and notice various holidays, we pause to think about their significance.  And typically, there are spiritual applications that we can consider.

Today, I want to address Veterans Day.  It occurs each year on November 11th.  This year it will be this coming Tuesday.  It is a federal holiday that is FIXED on the Calendar (not floating).

The premise of this holiday[1] dates to the end of WWI, when on November 11, 1918 in the 11th hour, an armistice (truce, cessation of fighting) was called between Allied nations and Germany.  In 1919, after the signing of the treaty of Versailles which officially ended the war, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th Armistice Day.  It was officially recognized by Congress in 1926.  It became a legal holiday in 1938.  Then in 1954, after the end of WWII and the Korean War, it was changed to Veterans Day to honor ALL veterans for their service.   In 1968, it was included as part of the “Uniform Holiday Bill” which created floating holidays on Mondays and in 1971 was observed on a Monday in October.  This only lasted 4 years as it was again fixed to November 11 in 1975 where it now remains.  The premise of this holiday is to honor ALL armed forces persons who have served our country and been discharged honorably.  However, we typically include currently enlisted soldiers as they are our present protection and will become veterans.  It is observed with local parades and ceremonies, the flying of the flag, family gatherings, etc.  Officially, at 11:11 Pacific time (2:11 PM EST), 2 minutes of silence is recommended.  The day is also observed in several other countries.

However, it is not our premise to observe this day, but to apply to spiritual lessons.

  1. We are at war
    1. Often the Bible uses warlike terminology to describe our lives. Ephesians 6:10-12ff, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – a spiritual war for the mind and the knowledge of God, etc. 1 Peter 2:11 describes fleshly lusts as waring against the soul.
    2. John 15:19-20, while speaking to His apostles, Jesus observed something that applies to all believers. The world that hated Jesus will hate us also.
    3. 1 Peter 5:8-9 – we are called to be sober and vigilant. The devil is our “enemy”
    4. 1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith…
  2. Faith of our Fathers – Our “spiritual veterans”
    1. This war that we are in is ongoing. As long as this world stands, it will continue.  BUT we are NOT the first generation to fight this war.  There are many “veterans” who have valiantly fought the good fight for us.  You might consider a spiritual veteran as one who has demonstrated mature faithfulness and fought the good fight.
    2. In scripture, we can look to many examples of faithfulness in battle. Warriors who put their trust in God – both physically and spiritually.  Throughout the history of Israel, we find soldiers who put their trust in God, delivering His people from their enemies and bringing peace to the land.  They laid the foundation through which our salvation was made possible.  The safety of the land was a part of God’s plan. Consider some faithful soldiers of the LORD.
      1. Moses – became the leader of Israel, leading them out of Egyptian bondage and throughout the wilderness.
        1. Hebrews 11:24-26. In a sense, he was the physical “commander in chief” of Israel.  While in Egypt he confronted Pharaoh which led to their release.
        2. With God’s help, he motivated a stubborn people who has resigned their lives to accept slavery, to stand up and leave that life behind. At the Red Sea he showed them (again) the salvation of the LORD (Exodus 14:13, 30) In so doing, eventually, they inherited the Promised Land which would become the place that would eventually bring salvation to us.
        3. We owe gratitude to him because of the battles he fought – both within and without. There is a reason why God’s laws to Israel is called “the Law of Moses” (cf. Joshua 8:31-32, Acts 28:23).
        4. Paul in Galatians 3:24 notes that the old law was a tutor (a household guardian of children) to bring us to Christ. Moses was that lawgiver.
      2. Joshua – a leader of the people who led Israel into the promised land.
        1. He demonstrated faith in God (along with Caleb) even when most of Israel did not (Numbers 14:6-7).
        2. Joshua was also a man of great courage that motivated the people to engage in battle against an ungodly land.  Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18, 10:25 – He was told by YHWH to be strong and of good courage and by faith he courageously trusted God and executed His will.
        3. Joshua 24:15, toward the end of his life (at around the age of 110 – Josh. 24:29) he challenges the people to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
      3. Deborah – a woman who led Israel in battle against the Canaanites.
        1. Recorded in Judges 4-5 she stood up for God, when men that SHOULD HAVE did not. Earlier this year, we presented a lesson about her faith and leadership.
        2. She serves as a reminder that women must fight this battle as well. And when they faithfully serve God, they too ought to recognized and appreciated for what they do.
      4. David – a “man after God’s own heart.”
        1. The life of David demonstrates valiant courage against enemies, physical and spiritual. He faithfully trusted and fought for God as throughout his life he fought off Israel’s enemies AND grounded the nation to trust in YHWH.
        2. He demonstrated tremendous faith as he confronted the giant Goliath as a youth. 1 Samuel 17:45, Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Psalm 18:39, For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.  Psalm 27:1, The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
        3. We also see in David, humility and gratitude toward God. Seen in his desire to build a house for God (2 Samuel 7) and his repentance after the sins associated with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51, etc.).
      5. Paul – a warrior for all mankind.
        1. Paul is not described as a military man, but throughout his life he fought for what he believed to be right. He was militant.  Even as he persecuted Christians, he thought he was glorifying God (Acts 26:9).    BUT after his conversion, he directed that fervor and devotion toward defending our Lord.
        2. Paul continually emphasized our spiritual warfare and fought for God’s people.
        3. He lived a life of sacrifice and total devotion to further the cause of Christ.
        4. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 at the end of his life he could with confidence declare he had fought the good fight.
        5. We owe a great debt of gratitude for his work. MUCH of what we do is based upon his inspired correspondence to churches and Christians.
          1. 2 Corinthians 12:15 – Paul declared that he would “spend and be spent for your souls”.
          2. Colossians 1:24, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
          3. 2 Timothy 2:10, Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
      6. Hebrews 11:32-40 – the Hebrew writer concludes his list of faithful endurance by describing some of what many unnamed servants went through for us.
      7. Jesus, our ultimate warrior. Why did Jesus come to this earth?  Because of the war Satan has waged against mankind.
        1. John 16:33 – Jesus declared to His apostles that he had overcome the world. John 12:31 He said, Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
        2. Luke 10:18 we read after His disciples return victorious, And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. While this text calls for deeper discussion, we note here that Jesus is declaring the defeat of Satan (demonstrated physically by their ability to cast out demons).
        3. He confronted Satan directly. In death He defeated him.
          1. Galatians 5:1 – Jesus the ultimate sacrifice that made us free.
          2. Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
          3. Hebrews 2:14-15, Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
          4. 1 John 3:8, He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
          5. Colossians 1:13, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
        4. Hebrews 12:1-2 after describing great examples (veterans) of faith, He encourages us to run looking unto Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith…”

Lessons to consider.

    1. In this spiritual war that we are a part of, we ought to consider the “veterans” that have gone before and learn from their examples and be grateful for the work they did. We would NOT be here without them.
      1. There may be someone in your life – a “veteran” of the cross. Who was responsible for bringing you to Christ?  Are you thankful?
      2. Are there faithful “soldiers of the cross” who have passed on?
      3. Are there faithful men and women who are continuing to serve our Lord, having fought the good fight of faith and laid hold of eternal life? E.g., elders, preachers, class teachers, that older man or woman that you look up to (cf. Titus 2:1-8), etc. We are called to honor those who have faithfully served – E.g., Hebrews 13:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.
    2. Are you “enlisted” in His army? 2 Timothy 2:3-4.  Veterans serve a vital role in recruiting.  People consider the sacrifices and efforts that veterans have made and they see the nobility of the cause for which they fought.  This motivates many to enlist in our armed services.  Similarly, our “spiritual veterans” can serve as an encouragement for us to become a part of His army.
    3. Our battle is not fought in vain.
      1. Sometimes when men fight in physical wars they still lose. Yet we still honor those willing to stand and fight for what they believed in.  If the cause is noble, most do not regret it.
      2. BUT we are enlisting in a war where the outcome has already been determined. We may lose a battle here and there, but the war has already been won.
      3. Continually scripture reminds us of this:
        1. Proverbs 21:31, The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.
        2. Romans 8:31 – If God be for us, who can be against us? More than conquerors.
        3. Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things thought Christ…
        4. Remember that with Him, you WILL be victorious – 1 John 4:4 – He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Romans 8:37 – in Him we are more than conquerors.

From these thoughts we can see that it is good to pause and consider those who have fought the battles to give us spiritual hope.  May such motivate us to stand true to His will.  BUT it is also good to pause and give thanks for veterans of physical wars who have fought for us, often at tremendous sacrifice, so that we enjoy the freedoms we have.  Let us NEVER take these things for granted.  And let us use our freedoms to bring glory to our God.

Are you enlisted in the Lord’s army?  Think about it!

[1] Department of Veterans Affairs (jdt). (2024, June 10). History of Veterans Day – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/

Accessed November 6, 2025.

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