Why Remember?

​Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
 
I spent this past November 11th morning in the snow at my local Cenotaph remembering and paying tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. I find myself getting choked up by the imagery and idea of what we are remembering. But I sometimes ask myself why I get such a reaction.  I spent a few days pondering this until the furor over Don Cherry’s comments interrupted my thoughts. I’d intended on writing about the act and importance of remembering and wondered if I should change the thrust of my writing because of the all controversy and emotions on both sides of the issue.
 
But then I thought, no, I will continue on because at times such as this we need to be reminded of the importance of remembering (no pun intended!).
 
We remember so we can continue. In times like this it’s easy to get scared, angry or fall into the gridlock of too much information. But when we remember we can carry on. We remember that Jesus told his disciples, and we as his church by extension, that we would experience betrayal, wars, false prophets, disaster, abandonment, and attacks like we saw in France (Matthew 24:1-14).  This can be very discouraging; we may want to give up or even question God’s power and goodness. But then we can also remember Jesus words: “I have told you all these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
 
Take heart, I have overcome the world!
 
There will be trouble in the world and increasingly for the follower of Jesus Christ that is becoming more pronounced. Here is Canada we are misunderstood, discriminated against and increasingly being treated with suspicion. But that’s nothing considering the persecution of Christians in places like North Korea (yes, there are Christians there!), Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria and so many other places.
 
You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!
 
Notice the exclamation mark? That’s for emphasis, as if to say, ‘this really has happened and you really can tap into that power source. This is the peace Jesus talked about earlier.  While we will likely never have total physical peace on this Earth we can experience peace with God through Jesus and what he did for us.  His death on the cross signaled that sin had been defeated and his resurrection that death had been defeated.
 
So while terrorists may strike, while wars may rage, we can have peace because of what Jesus did for us. This is worth remembering.
 
I am very thankful for our veterans who went to fight so that others may live and so I remember then by wearing a poppy and attending a November 11 service at my local cenotaph.  I am very thankful for Jesus who paid a price I could not so that I might live forever. Greater love has no one than this……
 
This is worth remembering in troubled and turbulent times like this.  Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world.  Lest we forget.  Do you?

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