On a recent Summer morning, 75 years after he landed in France to help the Allies liberate Europe from Nazi control, Russell Pickett stood at attention as the President spoke.

 

A private in 1944, Pickett was now receiving the adulation of a grateful nation. He knew firsthand the reality that there is very little glory in war death. Yet here his country was honoring his service in that memorable conflict. The President even hugged him!

 

He stood with several of his comrades, men now in their 90s, and they shook hands with heads-of-state and the famous milled around. But a little-reported story is that many of the veterans spoke of their reliance on the Almighty. They knew their Source of victory.

 

Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

 

There have been many brave men and women in our nation’s history. Many of them fight today in places we’ll never know about. But we have only one General, only one true Commander-in-Chief. The Lord of History is the only One truly deserving of our adulation.

 

One day, when we achieve our final victory, it is Him we will see face-to-face.

 

What glory that will be.

 

Let’s pray.

 

Lord, you are always on the battlefield with us, never leaving us. Your kindness to us is eternal. Glory belongs to you alone. Amen.