Memorial Day Edition: What’s The Point Of Rememberance?

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.  I and your other executive elders have been in Europe with several other pastors on a church planting trip.  We’re anxious to dive back in to daily life here in Louisville, and in this Sojourn community.

Of course Memorial Day is more than just a day off work.  It’s more than fireworks, barbecues or swimming parties.  It’s the day this country has decided to specifically reflect on and honor the men and women who have died in military service to this country, from colonial days to now.

What’s the point of remembering?  What’s the point of reflecting on the past?  On where a people have been, and how they got to where they are?

The Bible is full of Memorials.  Check out a few:

• The Rainbow — a reminder of God’s covenant to never again destroy the world by water

• Passover — a feast to remind the Israelites of the night of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, through God’s miraculous power and provision.

• Communion — the Lord’s Supper is our weekly memorial of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for us on the cross, a memorial that He commands us to “do in rememberance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

You’ll find many other memorials in the Bible.  Check out one at Joshua 4.  Here, the Lord commands Joshua to have the people set up memorial stones,

“to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

I’m not saying that our nation’s leaders have always chosen the right path for us, or taking sides with any political party about whether or not a particular war or battle was necessary or was conducted in the best possible way.  But God has placed in the heart of man a need to remember, to reflect, to be thankful for the sacrifices of others and, more so, to be thankful for God’s sovereign leadership over the events and courses of history.  Christ is Lord of all, and is working through His Spirit and His church until the consummation of this age, when:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

– Revelation 21:4-5