D-Day

Seven “D-Days”

1. D-Day, June 6, 1944 – the day more than 2,500 young men died serving their country in an effort to stop evil.  It was a “just” war and their sacrifices are greatly appreciated.  May we not forget!  
        I am sitting with an old timer this morning and I mentioned D-Day to him and he started talking and talking. He noted that the only tires available were recaps and they were good for about 10,000 miles only – aren’t we blessed today by the sacrifices of those back then?
        He talked about attending a one-room school at Cornhusker and Hwy 6 and they would watch convoys miles long pass by moving military goods.  When neighbors were called up for service, they left having no idea where they were going nor for how long.  Because things were tight, his parents would grab what they could so sometimes they would have sacks of flour and sugar in a storage room. His dad wanted to buy a John Deere model “G” but had to settle for an “A” because there was no idea when a “G” might be available. His folks would often give their gas tokens to their parents so they could travel and by doing so they had to use Omaha public transportation.  In addition to the soldiers, the citizens paid a price and we today are the recipients of their sacrifices.  

2. “This is “D-Day” (the day) that the Lord has made”, Psalm 118:24.  The most important day in history was the day that Jesus allowed men to inflict a torturous death on Him and submit to God’s wrath for the sins of others.  It was a day that God decreed and today uses to justify His enemies.  It was the day God paid the price owed to Him so that people could be saved.  Is “D-Day” (the day) of Jesus’ death of huge importance to you?  It should be!!
3. No man knows “D-Day” (the day) or the hour that Jesus returns, Matt 24:36.  Jesus is coming again but not as before: the first time He came as a Lamb and the next as a Lion!  With a sword He will render judgment on men and nations that rejected Him.  It will be a day like no other!  That coming “D-Day” will be an end to the God’s patience and will usher in His direct dictatorship.  It is a Day that those not saved should dread. You hear men talk of it over and over – a cataclysmic event, a holocaust, an Armageddon, an invasion of “Martians”, a Day of Destruction!   
4. What was “D-Day” you accepted Jesus as your Savior?  Do you have a time?  You were not born saved – a Christian.  There has to be a time when you came to realize you were a sinner before God and unacceptable to live with Him forever and that all your good could not balance out or trump your bad.  You realized that only the work of Jesus at calvary was acceptable before God and that only in repentance, confession and asking for Jesus to accept you are you saved.  There needs to be a time when you cried out to God for mercy and grace (Romans 10:10).  There has to be time when you willed to submit your life – your will – to His and you were “born again.”  If born again, you became a “new creation” and thus you had new loves, a new direction, an aversion to the old self and ways, and you desired to please God.  What is “D-Day” that Jesus became yours?
5. “D-Day” of your death looms!  You think you will do this and that today – you don’t know that you will see the sunset today.  We all think we will live until aged, but reality tells us that death looms for all ages.  Today might be “D-Day” you step out of this world.  It behooves you to fix things with others, with God and be ready to stand before Jesus.  Today could be “D-Day!”
6. “D-Day” of tragedy comes.  We think of 9/11 or 12/7 or 11/22.  We all have “D-Day” that casts a long shadow over our lives: a suicide, a horrible accident, an untimely death, cancer, a divorce, loss of job or other.  Are you prepared for “D-Day” your world pauses and the rest of your days are touched?
7. And know that every day is “D-Day” to do right.  Every day we are all challenged to stand up, speak up and show up for the Truth!  Every day is “D-Day” to be a witness for Jesus!