Sunday, June 14th 1777, was the day that the Second Continental Congress of the United States of America officially adopted the basic design of our nation’s flag.
The original resolution called for a flag with thirteen alternating red and white stripes with a union of thirteen white stars on a field of blue. Nearly every aspect of our flag communicates sentiments of our forefathers as they struggled to establish a new nation.
The contrasting colors and number of the thirteen horizontal stripes represent the unity of the original colonies against oppression. Each of the stars also represented one of the colonies, which in view of our independence from our mother country, came to be referred to later as states. As states were added to the union, stars were added to the flag. Interestingly enough, at least part of the original idea of the separate field of blue was to signify the desire for eventual reconciliation with Britain.
The colors have meaning as well. In the words of the congress which chose this flag, the blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. White signifies purity and innocence. Red was chosen for hardiness and valor. Though it is not officially designated so, one cannot help but consider that the red of those stripes must also stand for the blood shed to buy and maintain our independence and freedom as we see that banner waving over the cemeteries, final resting places of our honored war dead, and draped over the caskets of those who served their nation as they are laid to rest.
With these things in mind, our flag becomes more than a symbol of our nation. It is an object lesson, reminding us of the great debt we owe those who have gone before us and encouraging us to carry on in their stead.
So it is with the cross. When I consider it, I am reminded of what has been done for me as the apostle Paul wrote, “The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1st Corinthians 1:18).
Though God has not officially designated the cross as a symbol for His Son’s church, its reality and concept is of course an inextricable part of our heritage as Christians. What has been designated by Jesus Himself, is an intimate time of communion with Him and with one another. As we share each Lord’s day in eating the unleavened bread of the His supper and drinking the juice of the grape, we envision His body and blood and what they mean to us, and what He has done for us. We remember our Lord as He despised the shame of the cross and looked beyond it to the joy that He was buying with His life which was our salvation, Hebrews 12:1-2.
These are two great object lessons. For one we proudly stand and salute, for the other we humbly, yet joyfully bow our heads in gratitude.
Marty Kessler