Gtcotr/ws020321
I
don’t know if you have had a chance to visit the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas,
or not but if you do, keep your eyes open for 3 special things:
1.
An owl
2.
Some poems
3. And a picture
The picture is a portrait of a man named Macajah Autry. He was the one of the defenders of the Alamo and to his credit, he also carved the owl and wrote the poems.
Macajah was born in North Carolina in 1793 and relocated to Tennessee after serving in the war of 1812. He left farming to practice law where he became acquainted with several Tennessee politicians including Sam Houston, Andrew Jackson, and Davy Crocket. Macajah supported Sam Houston, (Governor of TN & TX; Senator; Congressman; President of Texas), when he ran for governor of Tennessee. But it is believed his friendship with Crocket led him to join the cause of the Texans who were fighting for freedom from, Mexico’s revolutionary uncrowned monarch, Santa Anna.
On December 13, 1835, on his way to volunteer at the Alamo, Macajah wrote a letter to his wife while he was camping in Natchitoches, Louisiana. This is an excerpt from that letter:
"About 20 men from Tennessee formed our squad.... The war [in Texas] is still going on favorably to the Texans, but it is thought that Santa Anna will make a descent with his whole force in the Spring ... We have between 400 and 500 miles to foot it to the seat of government, for we cannot get horses, but we have sworn allegiance to each other and will get along somehow."
On March 6, 1836, Macajah Autry gave his life at the Alamo, fighting for the freedoms we now enjoy and must protect. He was under the command of Col William B. Travis, a 26-year-old patriot of the American Dream.
Why is Macajah Autry important to me? Because he is a cousin of mine. His daughter, Mary Autry Greer, later moved to Beaumont, Texas, and raised 5 sons who were lawyers, judges, and politicians serving our communities and the great state of Texas. My grandmother was an Autry, and I am proud to have a stake in Texas.
When I was a school-boy I remember hearing the battle cry, “Remember the Alamo!” When I’d play like I was a soldier with other kids, we would often shout that battle cry ourselves … on both sides … lol … as we ran together to meet and defeat the enemy.
Later on in life I questioned that battle cry. “Remember the Alamo!?” Wait … didn’t we lose that one? After all, this could just have easily been the battle cry of the Mexican Army as well – “Recuerda el Alamo!”
The inspiration we need to press towards the next battle and win the victory often comes at a high price. Take for example the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Victory cannot be measured by the moment.
Such was the case of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It must have seemed like a total defeat to those followers of Jesus in Jerusalem that Passover. I imagine they never expected to recover from His death or their loss. Hope must have appeared to be beyond the reach of mortal man … and indeed it was. There are some victories only God can reveal in His good time.
The crucifixion of Jesus was the most disappointing event ever in the lives of those who followed Him. It was still fresh on their minds that Resurrection Sunday when Mary told the eleven that she had seen Jesus alive. It was unbelievable. The Gospels record Him appearing to His disciples later that day and then in the evening He also talked with some followers who were distraught as they walked a lonely road.
Luke 24
13 ¶ Now behold, two of them
were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles
from Jerusalem.
14 And they talked together
of all these things which had happened.
15 So it was, while they
conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were
restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What
kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are
sad?”
18 Then the one whose name
was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem,
and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What
things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was
a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 “and how the chief priests
and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21 “But we were hoping that
it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is
the third day since these things happened.
22 “Yes, and certain women of
our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23 “When they did not find
His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said
He was alive.
24 “And certain of those who
were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him
they did not see.”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
The followers of Jesus saw what happened to Him at the cross as a defeat … But Jesus and all of heaven saw it as a victory.
All of Jacob’s sons saw Joseph defeated … Joseph saw things in a different light. It just took more than one moment to show that Joseph was right.
Ten of the spies told Moses they would be defeated by the overwhelming odds … 2 said they’d win. All of them were right in their own time. It just took a little while for the plan to unfold in God’s time.
The message of the cross is a message of hope and redemption. Jesus paid the price for our souls to be redeemed from sin. The account also shines a great light on the fact that no event, past, present, or future, can stop the unfolding plan God has put in place to deliver His children from the power of darkness. Every step with God is a step towards victory.
King David proclaimed this truth when he wrote: “Why so downcast O my soul, put your hope in God. I will praise Him for He is my God and my Savior.” (Psalms 42:5;11 & Psalms 43:5)
Our main text for this evening will come from two passages written by the Apostle Paul who, like King David, Joseph, and Joshua, understood disappointment yet he remained victorious over every enemy of the cross.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
“Remember the Alamo” to a Texan is no sign of discouragement or defeat. We are not ashamed of those who stood their ground, didn’t back down, and gave their all for what they believed. In fact, the enemies of Texas should fear and tremble and not consider it foolish when they hear the us say, “Come and take it!”
The men who died at the Alamo had but one regret. It was the same regret credited to 21-year-old American patriot Nathan Hale on September 22, 1776, just before he was hanged by the British for insurrection. His famous last words: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
These are not foolish words or a foolish sentiment. Those who say and mean such things are looking beyond the moment and they in no way see the moment as defeat. If anything, it is that moment that propels others to achieve the great victories that lie ahead.
The cross of Christ is foolishness to some but to us, it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
There
is no rightful claim to greatness without the cross of Jesus Christ. For this
reason, come what may, the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
To live is Christ … to die is gain. Victory is more than the moment! Stand your
ground and do not accept defeat. Jesus is Lord!
