It is good to show a high appreciation for the men and women in the armed forces, wearing honorable outfits, moving with precision and order, protecting the country on one accord.
Saluting refers to the showing of respect and honor to one in authority over you in the
armed forces.
When a subordinate salutes a higher ranking official, they are not doing so because they are scared and shaking in their bones, but they do so in reverant respect, understanding they are to do exactly what is commanded of them because following orders saves lives. It not only shows they are under the authority of their immediate officers over them but under the authority of the United States government.
In the blockbuster movie A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson played the part of the highest ranking officer in the military–a general, echoing the same theme that when orders weren’t followed, “people die”.
This same theme is true when it comes to the word of God.
Wisdom is born
We understand through the word of God in Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” When the word of God is not regarded, respected, venerated or honored above all things in our lives, lives are destroyed, families broken up and yes it is even possible that “people can die”. Do we salute the word of God as we should?
Normally, men are concerned about who’s got the biggest muscles, women more concerned with who has the biggest hair, but I submit that as saints of the Most High, we must be more concerned with the fear of the LORD.
Some people like the bible and its truths only on Sundays, but please, don’t talk to them about honor and respecting the LORD’s word everyday–you’ve went too far now. They’ll tell you real quick that you’re taking this Christianity thing too far. You’ll be called everything from a Jesus freak to a bible thumper or people will say, (normally behind your back) “what’s wrong with him, doe’s he have to talk about the bible and Jesus all the time?” or “Watch out what you say around ole’ holy ears, he’ll be bringin’ up God again.”
It’s sad to say, but some Christians are as about as interested in honoring and respecting the bible as they are sheep dookey on a rocky mountain. I know that’s crude and in your face, but you ask any captain or high ranking officer and that’s about what it adds up to when you have any new comer in the military that thumbs their noses up at the system of saluting, with an attitude of disrespect–it’s an ugly sight.
In A few Good Men, the General summed it up best, “You can’t handle the truth!” And it’s true, carnal Christians can’t handle the truth most of the time; it’s good for an earth shattering message on Sundays, but please don’t go bring that stuff up at a tupper-ware party or a break-room gossip session because someone’s liable to get offended- you don’t want to get stares like Beavis and Butthead.
It’s as if the word of God were our commanding officer and many can stand tall before it, but few and far between can actually lift that hand in the air to the right temple to actually salute it–respect and do what it says.
Have you forgotten what you look like?
In James 1:22-25 we see what it means to fear the LORD in a whole new light. Some people can’t look themselves in the eye because of the things they did the previous night. These are the foul sins which continue to wear down the saints, practiced simply because they forgot what they looked like in the mirror.
“Wait, I know I just looked, but what color is my hair? Are my eyes brown or blue?” You ever ask yourself those kinds of questions? Silly thought isn’t it, but that’s exactly what happens when we read the bible and refuse to put it into practice.
C’mon people, we’re better than that!
If we fear the LORD and his word, we will not just stand tall before it, we’ll salute it, by actually doing what it says. This can only happen after we allow the sword to etch its truths in our hearts.
In part two, we’ll talk more about a fear that leaves you saluting. In the mean time, answer the above question for the community here at Today’s Truth Blog. Honestly, do you fear the LORD by honoring and respecting his word or are you that type of person that can’t remember whether your hair is straight or curly?





