Life
Jun 17, 2025 by Addison Crissone
A few months ago, my family had the privilege of visiting the U.S.S. Yorktown as a belated birthday gift for my dad.
The aircraft carrier was larger than life, filled to the brim with all sorts of artifacts and information from WW2 to Vietnam- so much knowledge that my head began to spin.
But just as you enter the first exhibit on the ship, you are met with a sigh, bearing a grainy picture of two, perhaps three, soldiers, and beside this picture is a quote attributed to Gary Beikirch, a Medal of Honor recipient-
"To those who fight for it, life has a meaning the protected will never know."
"You cannot add days to your life, but you can add life to your days."
The aircraft carrier was larger than life, filled to the brim with all sorts of artifacts and information from WW2 to Vietnam- so much knowledge that my head began to spin.
But just as you enter the first exhibit on the ship, you are met with a sigh, bearing a grainy picture of two, perhaps three, soldiers, and beside this picture is a quote attributed to Gary Beikirch, a Medal of Honor recipient-
"To those who fight for it, life has a meaning the protected will never know."
This quote has stuck with me - its powerful simplicity and heartfelt meaning resonate with a truth that stands true throughout history.
Every soldier who enlists in the American military does so with the desire to protect those they left behind at home, as well as to strengthen the American armed forces as a whole.
They fight, so we don't have to.
Many of them willingly give their lives so that we, the American people, do not have to.
It is a great human analogy of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.
He fought and defeated the devil so we wouldn't have to.
He died on the cross in our place, so that we would not bear the shame and reproach of a criminal's death.
It was these words quoted above that came back to me about a week ago, while on a trip to the lake, that my sister looked at me and repeated a statement she had heard in a podcast earlier that day-
Every soldier who enlists in the American military does so with the desire to protect those they left behind at home, as well as to strengthen the American armed forces as a whole.
They fight, so we don't have to.
Many of them willingly give their lives so that we, the American people, do not have to.
It is a great human analogy of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.
He fought and defeated the devil so we wouldn't have to.
He died on the cross in our place, so that we would not bear the shame and reproach of a criminal's death.
It was these words quoted above that came back to me about a week ago, while on a trip to the lake, that my sister looked at me and repeated a statement she had heard in a podcast earlier that day-
"You cannot add days to your life, but you can add life to your days."
Jesus did not die for you and me to squander our days away chasing petty pursuits that ultimately do not further his gospel or crowd his kingdom.
Friend, our days are numbered.
In His word, we read the infamous words, "Teach us to number our days..." (Psalm 90:12).
As humans, we do not know how many days we are granted on this earth, and we certainly do not know the appointed time for our departure from this earth into either one of the two destinations we must choose to go after.
David said in the thirty-ninth Psalm- "O Lord, make me to know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!" (V.4).
But we do not know the brevity of this life, else we would act and speak and be something entirely different from what we probably are today.
We are protected, my friends, by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we often neglect the true meaning of this life. Rather than pass our days doing the very least we can to get by as a Christian in an evil world, we must step up and speak out, and truly live. We must put the life back into our days.
Because our days aren't getting any longer nor numerous.
But we've still got this life to live.
Will you live it?
Friend, our days are numbered.
In His word, we read the infamous words, "Teach us to number our days..." (Psalm 90:12).
As humans, we do not know how many days we are granted on this earth, and we certainly do not know the appointed time for our departure from this earth into either one of the two destinations we must choose to go after.
David said in the thirty-ninth Psalm- "O Lord, make me to know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!" (V.4).
But we do not know the brevity of this life, else we would act and speak and be something entirely different from what we probably are today.
We are protected, my friends, by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we often neglect the true meaning of this life. Rather than pass our days doing the very least we can to get by as a Christian in an evil world, we must step up and speak out, and truly live. We must put the life back into our days.
Because our days aren't getting any longer nor numerous.
But we've still got this life to live.
Will you live it?
