A Most Noble Death

~Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God~

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV

It was general George Patton who once commented that it was foolish for us to mourn those men who have died in battle.  Rather...we should thank God that such men lived.  I would agree with old blood and guts on that point.  While there is pain in the sacrafice which the gallant few have made, we do well to remember the spirit with which they lived than the agony of their death.  The pages of history are filled with the names of those who have marched willingly into battle, knowing that without the courage of those who dared, there would not be much left to fight for should they fail.  Our nation has a long history of honoring her sons and daughters  who have given of themselves in battle.  In the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia, we pay our respects to those who have passed on before us in the defense of our nation.  From the civil war to the war on terror, so many of those who have given their lives for their country are assembled here.  The centerpiece of the national military cemetary is the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.  The white marble tomb is guarded twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year by Tomb Guard sentinals, volunteers from the Third U.S. infantry regiment (The Old Guard) based in Fort Myer, Virginia.  The changing of the guard at Arlington continues to be one of the most watched events each year.  Inscribed upon the tomb is a simple inscription..."Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."

"Men, all this stuff you here about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is alot of bullshit!  Americans love to fight.  All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle.  When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball players and the toughest boxers.  Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.  Americans play to win all the time.  That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war.  The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.  Battle is the most significant competition in which a man can indulge.  It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base."
~General George Patton, 5 June, 1944~

Known but to God.  One soldier, one sacrafice known but to God.  Many have refered to those who have died in battle as having died a noble death.  Be that as it may, it is Patton himself who once said that the very object of war was not to die for ones country...but to make the other bastard die for his.  That being said, is there such thing as a noble death?  I know of just one, that which we have already partaken of.  As the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6, "He who has died has been freed from sin."  The noble death I speak of is the death of that "Old man" which we once walked in.  We do well to remember that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God {Romans 3:23}.  This is the sin nature we were born into.  This is our old man which was crucified on that cross with Jesus...that the body of sin might be done away with.  Indeed, if we have so died with Christ, then we shall live with Him as well {Galations 2:20}.  We can now be assured that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ {Romans 8:1}.  A most noble death that our old man be put away once and for all...known but to God.

~Scott~