Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him…and honor him. Psalm 91:14-15
The Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian award in the United States, recognizes individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” It is given sparingly, but has been bestowed upon such highly deserving names as Rush Limbaugh, Margaret Thatcher, and President Ronald Reagan. I can only imagine the sense of accomplishment the recipients of this prestigious medal must have felt as the President himself laid it around their necks. To receive that award means they must have accomplished some great objective or effected some great change for the betterment of their fellow-citizens of the world. It must feel as if all your life’s work has been worth all the struggles and distress it may have caused. To be recognized by the President of the United States, and essentially the world, must elicit tremendous feelings of satisfaction.
The only problem with the Presidential Medal of Freedom is that very few people will ever be “lucky” enough to receive it. With so few given out each year, the odds of actually receiving the award would be less than winning a million-dollar lottery. In fact, there are probably many deserving people whose acts either go unnoticed or who don’t have enough prestige to gain themselves the recognition needed to merit the award. In other words, only a small handful of people will ever earn earth’s highest honor.
Or maybe that’s not true. Is a medal given by human hands that will pass away really the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a human being? According to Psalm 91, those who make God the center of their lives and put their entire trust in God will be honored by Him. Is that not a higher honor bestowed upon a man than the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Along with the honor by God, Psalm 91 lists many other benefits that can only be described as miraculous. A President can only issue awards based upon the authority given to him by the United States and by God. God can honor a man and add a million things besides. Added to the distinct privilege of being honored by God comes the fact that there is no limit to the number of those whom God will honor. That gives me and you a chance at receiving it! It is up to us then to make sure we focus our love upon Him if we would be honored by Him. No, earth’s highest honor is not a Presidential Medal of Freedom, it is being honored by God Himself.
Read also: Psalm 91:1-16
Quote of the day: “We keep ourselves only by giving ourselves to God.”
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