Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my perspective; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.

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Last weekend was the Memorial Day (國殤節) weekend. Weather was great and my family had a chance to tour the military academy at West Point. It has been a while since our last visit several years ago. The academy has had several buildings added or renovated. We attended a guided tour in order to have a better view of the academy. There were two main presentations during our tour by a guide who used to work in the academy. One of the most impressive ones, personally, is the one at the chapel. The guide spent quite a while in explaining history and construction of the chapel and how the cadets of the academy participated in the worship services. It is quite enlightening. The chapel has the most elaborated organ in the world which has 2000+ pipes surround around the wall of the chapel. Each year it offers a performance of George Handel’s masterpiece “Messiah” to the public. According to the guide, the wall is shaking during the performance. You may want to attend it if you have an opportunity. The 200+ ft walkway in the chapel is another interesting legend, per the guide, as the chapel is also used for wedding place for the cadets – it provides a chance for a bride or a bridegroom to “escape” the wedding via a side door before standing in front of the officiated pastor or priest, in case the bride or the bridegroom changes her or his mind during the long walking down the walkway. Of course, the guide didn’t know how many have done that J

On the center steeple wall of the chapel, there are three words inscribed. They are “Duty, Honor, Country”, according to the guide. It is the motto of the academy which was prescribed by the General Douglas MacArthur. “These three words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn. They teach you to be proud and unbending in honest failure, but humble and gentle in success…..” per General MacArthur. These words were echoing in my head even after we left the academy. As a solider, he or she has the duty to serve and protect his or her own county.  He or she would earn his or her honor (or respect) when perform his or her duty without giving up or escaping it. Sometimes this could mean sacrifice his or her life.

Last Sunday, brother Wai Lau used the movie “Saving Private Ryan” as an illustration to close his sermon theme of David’s humility and how he dedicated himself to build the LORD’s temple. From another angle, if I may, the Private Ryan who has 3 brothers lost their lives during the war, insisted that he would stay at the post defending the bridge in order to block Germen’s advancement. From that act, you could see that he is a man of honor – he is willing to defend his country at whatever cost.

My dear brothers and sisters, as we are God’s soldiers in fighting spiritual battles, do you know what is our “duty”, “honor” and “country”? If I may, let me share with you my view, which is not meant to be exhaustive and not to be totally accurate, of course:

Duty: “Bear witness of God” (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19)

Honor: “Crown of life” (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10)

Country: “God’s kingdom” (Matthew 4:17)

The key here is can we be “a Christian of honor” that could stand firm during trials without losing our faith in God. The author of the book of Hebrews does remind us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Therefore, we should throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1). May God help us throughout our journey of faith….