Lawrence Hammond-Bruce Lawson-James McAndrew...the names glint in the Washington sunshine, names etched in the polished black granite of the Vietnam Memorial, names of those who died. Their living loved ones come to stand and search for that one special name-to reach up to touch this one last tie-to whisper, “We remember-we will never forget-we love you.”
Long after the last mourner has gone, when there is no one left able to say, “I knew him; I cared for him,” the names will still be there: Nathaniel Lee Marvin Lindsey-Dennis Pitsenbarger...it will be a voice ever saying: They lived, and they are dead.
Yes, every name on those stones is a memorial to death. Paul McNaly-Gary Tracy-Frank Wilson...they are remembered, they were loved, but those reaching hands, those longing hearts, can never really touch them. It is a roster of the dead.
These are names that will last forever, names of the living: Jennifer, Steve, Carole, Bryan, whosoever...! Is your name written there?
The names etched in granite are not there by choice. To die in the mud and blood and suffering of war was a terrible thing. Far, far worse will it be to die without making sure that your name is written in the book of life. That choice is yours!
After the “dead, small and great, stand before God,” whosoever is not found written in that book will be “cast into the lake of fire.” That means eternal separation from God in blackness of darkness forever, in a state too horrible to contemplate.
Again, you do have a choice! By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, by receiving Him as your own Savior, by confessing Him as Lord, you will insure that your name is in that book.
Rejoice! Isn’t that wonderful?