1. Tomorrow, we observe the Memorial Day. What is it, and for whom do we keep this memorial? Whether in America or in Korea, this is the national holiday for the national memorial. We nationally remember those who died for the country mostly in wars. Any country honors and remembers those who love and even die for their homeland, because such people are necessary for the build-up and safety of a country. If we are benefited by their loyalty and sacrifice, we have to remember them with respect and gratitude.

2. How about those who sacrificially served the Kingdom of God even to death? Now, the Kingdom of God is the greatest and strongest of all countries, though it is spiritual and invisible. To make it happen, so many loyal Christians sacrificed. Heb 11 lists a sample of the heroes of faith. In the short history of the Korean Christianity, more than 10 thousands Christians died to establish the Kingdom of God in Korea. And, far more than those died sacrificially served it with great courage of faith. We must not forget their contributions, by which we live this life of faith peacefully. Even for our church, there are many people who served our congregation so faithfully and sacrificially.

3. However, it is not a responsibility of a few devout Christians. It is the duty of us all who are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and born again for the Kingdom of God. Then, who is the loyal Christian who will be remembered by God and fellow Christians? First, they are the men of faith: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.”(13a) What is faith? “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”(1) The men of faith do not live by what we see and what we have. They live in the sure hope of the divine promises and the certain faith of invisible realities.

4. Second, they are “aliens and strangers on earth.”(13b) They live on earth, but they don’t belong to this world. If we have Korean citizenship, we do not belong toAmerica though we live inAmerica. We speak the different language, perform the different behavior, think the different logic, and prefer the different choice. Life style and ethos system are quite different. Therefore, we live the different life even though it seems similar. Likewise, if we do not belong to earth but to heaven, we will speak and act differently. Our goal and value will be very different. The world will not understand us.

5. Third, they are “longing for a better country--a heavenly one.”(16) What is our final destination and ultimate purpose of our life? Our ancestors dreamed of “returning hometown with golden gown.” We left our homeland and immigrated to a foreign land. Do you want to go back? Do you think that it is really possible? Once we leave our homeland, we leave it forever. We are lost between two countries. Not only we immigrants, but also the absolute majority left their hometown due to the massive urbanization today. Also, the modern man has the feeling of "homelessness" psychologically and socially. We are lost!

The men of faith also lost their homeland because of faith and God’s calling. However, they did not set their goal of life to return to their homeland: “they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one.”(13b-16a) Our longing and pursuit of life should be different with that of non-Christians. Where are you going to return? Where is your life aiming at?

6. If you are loyal and faithful to the Kingdom of God and the heavenly homeland, God will be pleased to be called as your God: “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”(16b)