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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus - Galatians 3:28
The following is a story of an imagined participant in the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle was a turning point for the United States, and the hopes and dreams of those involved are landmarks to the heart and soul of our nation. TJC authors have taken creative liberty to generate some of those hopes that resonate with history through the century to our present time. Our hope is that it ministers to your spirit.
An entry in the journal of Samuel Carlson:
November 19th, 1863
Today I looked on as a stalwart man spoke and left the rest of us speechless. Cora and I went in to town today for the consecration of the cemetery and to hear Mr. Lincoln speak, but I was not prepared for what he had to say. He stood tall as ever, made taller still by the stovepipe hat he wore. He had a tinge of gray in his face as he stepped up to the podium, no doubt due to the weariness in his present occupation. When he spoke that weariness lifted and I saw nothing but purpose in his eyes. He only spoke for a couple of minutes, very short indeed, but what was remarkable was how clear he was. This nation was conceived in Liberty, dedicated to the proposition that all men were created equal. Then he consecrated the living to carry forward that cause, lest the tens of thousands who died in Gettysburg die in vain.
This word, “equal”, is in my mind both a challenge and a promise. It is a challenge because our hearts would prefer dominance to equality in most cases. I fear equality will be the primary fight of this nation, because it is so challenging. Equality is also a promise, penned by Mr. Jefferson at our founding, and by our Lord in scripture before that. St. Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” I believe that if we can live by the promise of scripture, treating all as if they are one in Christ, and if our country can ensure this equality of men at all costs, it will be as Mr. Lincoln said today. If we can do this, we will see a new birth of freedom- and government of the people, by the people, for the people will not perish from the earth. This is my hope.
DAILY BATTLE ORDER:
In the ten sentences of the Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln honored the 51,000 fallen Americans who died in Gettysburg, and cast a vision for the cause of those still living. You have read these words in school most likely, but today read them again as if it was the first time:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
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SIGN UP FOR GETTYSBURG: Calling all Kingdom Men! The Joshua Commission will hold its annual Gettysburg Battlefield training 15-16 October or meet us on the battlefield on 16 October at 0830
https://joshuacommission.org/gettysburg-battlefield-training-2021/
Click the link above to sign up. Please join us in Gettysburg, experience genuine fellowship with Christian men, and equip yourself for Victory as a prince and warrior in God’s kingdom!
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