Memorials
Life has been a little surreal for this Midwest native over the past year. I had never even visited New England, now I live here. Seeing Fenway Park, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, and Boston Harbor had not previously crossed my mind, but have since created a lasting impression. For one whose ideal vacation is on a lake in the middle of nowhere, away from crowds and surrounded by fish, a recent trip to New York City felt like a cross between a dream and a television show. My previous uncultured impression of New York came primarily from the television shows Friends and Seinfeld.
There is certainly one portion of the trip that lingers continually in my mind. I was able to see the One World Trade Center and the location of the previous towers that were destroyed nearly two decades ago. The area forever serves as a memorial of that tragic day. Just being in that place caused me to think about various things. For example, I had memories of the afternoon that all of this took place. I remember the people that I was with on that day. I pondered what it must have been like for those who personally experienced this event. I contemplated how a human heart could grow so callous that such an act of hatred was even possible.
Along with the memories, I also saw a number of reminders offered by people in the area concerning the memorial of this event. They were reminders that love is greater than hate. Today, I find myself wondering what it must be like for those who live in and among this area on a daily basis. Does the memory become less potent over time? Or, for many, does it make a subtle, but lasting impact?
This article is much more than a timely 9-11 reminder. Instead, this calls our attention to the power of memorials. Hopefully all of us realize that God uses memorials. There are two that I want you to consider today. The first is from Deuteronomy 6. I encourage you to read the whole chapter and consider the memorial of the home. God designed the home to be a constant reminder of our greatest purpose in life (verse 5). In the context of teaching this truth, children were to be reminded that God loves His people and had truly blessed the nation of Israel. They were also to learn that following God was serious and a full dedication in life. These things were to have been taught to children diligently and regularly (see verses 6-9).
The second memorial is from Luke 22.14-20. This is Luke’s account of what we commonly call the Lord’s Supper. Jesus established a memorial with His disciples that would be later followed weekly by His church. In it we recall His life, given as a sacrifice; His blood, which was shed for our sins; and His resurrection, which reminds us of our victory through Him.
It seems as though God understands how much we need memorials. If we followed these two memorials with all of our hearts, what would happen to our homes? Our children? For our children, our home should be a daily reminder of the message of Jesus that translates into practical, robust service to our Lord on a daily basis. And every Sunday our children should see the necessary importance and seriousness of our collective memorial of Jesus. This is God’s plan. As parents, are you providing the necessary memorials for your home?