Walking With the Word

Every year thousands gather to Remember those fallen in wars fought which gave us the freedoms we still enjoy today. Sir Winston Churchill, borrowing from George Santayana, said that, “Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it!” This is why remembering the sacrifices and the price that freedom costs is so important: that we may avoid it all happening again…

Many, sadly, have already forgotten as they unwittingly cheer on the very same tyrannical ideologies–now cloaked in compassion for minority groups and concern for the planet; duped into thinking it’s dying–tyrannical ideas which were defeated in the Second World War and also held in check during the Cold-War, and which wreak devastation wherever they gain a foothold.

Forgetfulness

Remembrance events of all kinds are vital for us humans, because we so easily forget the past. We too, can forget the good things God has done in our lives. We have birthdays to remind us of the gift of life; wedding anniversaries to remind us of the covenant we made; Christmas to remind us of Christs coming. In the Old Testament we find occasions when stone heaps were erected to help the Israelites remember what God had done for them. They served as lasting memorials, to commemorate a place where something significant took place.

God also reminded them continually:

“…Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm.” (Deuteronomy 5:15)

“Remember [how] the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness.” (Deuteronomy 8:2)

And so on…

When reading your way through the story of the Israelites, it is not difficult to realise why God had to constantly command them to remember. Despite all of the constant warnings, the people forgot about everything God ever did for them: the slavery they were rescued from, their continually breaking the Law and forgetting all the occasions God rescued them; they continually forgot the Lord their God.

How often do we forget Gods goodness in our lives and to count our blessings?

How often do we forget the promise that God would not leave nor forsake us and carry on as though we didn’t believe this?

How often do we forget that God said he would supply all of our needs and then fret over what we don’t have?

We all forget; we all need reminding.

Sacrifice

When remembering the fallen in past wars, sacrifice comes to mind. They sacrificed themselves for a future they themselves would not enjoy.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

The Old Testament narrative is part of a bigger picture that shows the plan of God to put the world right–to rescue us from sin and darkness–and culminates in the revealing of His Son Jesus Christ to do just that–that He make the ultimate sacrifice for Mankind. It was finally made possible, through His sacrifice, to get back into a right relationship with God–by faith–through Jesus death and resurrection and thus secure a joyous future, for those who would believe.

Remember

Those who belong to Christ remember Him regularly by partaking in the sacrament of Bread and the Wine:

“This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

Perhaps without this Remembrance, we too might forget all that Christ achieved on the Cross, all that He has accomplished for us and all that He does to lead us in our new found freedom: from the bondage of sin we now enjoy and awaiting our glorious inheritance with all the saints.

Let us not forget all the freedoms we have by the sacrifices made for us by those who fell on the battlefields of the past, but also let us not forget all that God has done for a us by sending His son to perish on the battlefield of the Cross, where the war against sin was won, victory over death accomplished and real freedom was made possible.

To End All Wars (by Glen Scrivener):