December 7 rolls around again. 65 years ago this morning, the US was attacked by Japan.
The survivors are gathering in Hawaii today for what they say will be there last reunion. We will see if 2011 finds them together again. My grandfather was one of those survivors, but has since, years ago, gone to be with the Lord. For most Americans, today will be marked by a brief reminder caused by a news blurb. In some schools (far too few) the students will briefly discuss the events. How can a “day that will live in infamy” be relegated to an event forgotten by many. If not for a series of movies, our youth would hardly know about that day. But then as everything else in history, we move forward, and away from it. We are certain that it will never happen to us again. Sadly, this is already happening to the events of 9/11.
No wonder that God in his Word urged His people to remember and to set up memorials. Without the Lord’s Supper, would we soon forget the price of Calvary? I think it is partly that we want to move away from the horribleness of the past. The past is not necessarily a pleasant subject for many people. How do you remember the past without despair? After all, horrible things have happened and there is nothing we can do about it now. We are left with emptiness and frustration if we dwell on it. But we also cannot, must not, forget. As Annie Johnson Flint, in a poem on another post (see below) said, our eyes must turn upward to Him who is our all in all. May I do that today!
Good thoughts, Tim, I suppose that we usually fall under two extremes. We try to live in the past or relegate the past to a non-issue. The Christian life is truly one of balance. We must remember the works of the Lord while forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Maybe the past should be our catapult to lauch us forward to serve the Lord.
“Remember” is an accounting term. God ‘remembers” our sin against us no more does not mean He forgets. It means He does not hold it against us any longer. Why? Because in Christ sin was dealt with once and for all. Hence I John 1:9 reminds us God is just to forgive because Christ took on the cross which we deserve.
In the same way, we can look to our past and find comfort, relief, and even joy in knowing that our past, present, and future (however sinful) are under the blood. The recalling of our sins in the past should rather bring on a whole new rehearsing of the gospel and a glorying in our identity in Christ. The cross is the reason for service, not our shame over past sin. Works to stay saved are no better than works to get saved. Works of righteousness reveal that the gospel is indeed the power of God unto salvation. It is the gospel that has brought new life, new hope, and a compelling motivation to serve God by serving others.
How does God get the glory when your sinful past, not the cross, becomes your motivation? There is an incredibly profound difference between working to be saved or to stay saved, and working because that is the logical, reasonable progression of being saved (Rom 12:1-2).
Check it out. Are not the “memorials” in scripture most typically to remind people of what GOD has done, NOT what man has not done or should have done and didn’t. The focus of memorials is God, not man.
Thanks Rudy, good words. I wasn’t thinking of salvation primarily when I wrote this. More just that we as humans are forgetful. Your comments on salvation and works are right on.
Tim
It made me think of how we make the waters of his salvation merky when we choose to recall our sin instead of giving them fully over to his saving grace.