by 250 years ago, patriotism was alive and real unlike any time in history. Men enlisted to fight for our nation’s freedom with great honor knowing they were signing their own death warrant. Before the United States of America, no country had allowed its citizens to stand up against them and succeed in changing their form of government.
In 1776, a private’s pay revealed much about their living sacrifice ─ a meager $6 per month, equivalent to $225 today — privates today receive over $2,400 plus benefits. Moreover, the Continental Congress could barely meet their budge in 1776, so troops often went without pay while at the same time their scanty wages were subject to deductions for uniforms, weapons and battle gear.
After the Revolutionary War was won, patriots remained on high alert to ensure the sacrifice of their brothers in arms would not be lost to another malignant government. These men became the backbone of the Constitution of the United States of America, a pillar of strength so settled and firm that all parliamentary malevolence has been thwarted without prejudice for 250 years. Consequently, the United States of America is the only truly free first-world nation, with troop after troupe of steadfast patriots carrying the baton to the next generation.
In 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 our spiritual Revolutionary War was won! Our Brother in Arms, Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life that we could have eternal victory! It is now our patriotic duty to remain on high alert to ensure His sacrifice will not be lost in this world by our malignant oppressor, Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). Our Savior is great enough to keep Satan’s gates from prevailing against His church (Matthew 16:18), but is is our responsibility to remain “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
What patriotic work are we to be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in? Paul described it in detail in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ─ preaching the Gospel of the Lord.
