On Him Alone

On Tuesday, January 20, 1981, Chief Justice Warren Burger administered the oath of office to the newly elected 40^th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. For the first time, the inauguration ceremony was held on the terrace of the West Front of the Capitol.

In his Inaugural Address, President Reagan noted the unique vantage point of the location of the ceremony:

“This is the first time in history that this ceremony has been held, as you have been told, on this West Front of the Capitol. Standing here, one faces a magnificent vista, opening up on this city's special beauty and history. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand.”

President Reagan referenced the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.  Then he pointed “beyond those monuments to heroism” to the far shore of the Potomac River, to “the sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery with its row on row of simple white markers bearing crosses or Stars of David.”  Each one of those markers, he said, is a monument to a hero.  He then directed the attention of the nation and the world to one of those markers:

“Under one such marker lies a young man — Martin Treptow — who left his job in a small town barber shop in 1917 to go to France with the famed Rainbow Division. There, on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire.  We are told that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf under the heading, ‘My Pledge,’ he had written these words: ‘America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.’”

There is ANOTHER war that continues to be waged today over the souls of men and women.  Our eternal destiny is at stake!  Because of our sin, our situation was hopeless until One was sent to our rescue.

He came bearing a message of salvation under the heavy fire of the enemy.  In fact, He was the message.  He was the sinless Son of God that was sent to bring the good news (the Gospel) of salvation from sin and to accomplish the means of that salvation.  He came, determined to accomplish the will of God, “as if the issue of the whole struggle depended upon Him alone.”  And it did!

For it was ONLY the sinless Son of God who could pay the price for our redemption for our sins.  He willingly paid that price by dying on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).

We may receive the benefits of His atoning sacrifice – salvation from sin and eternal life -- by placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

Our salvation from sin and the gift of eternal life depends upon Christ alone.  However, we must accept His offer of salvation and life on His terms.

Won’t YOU?