People go to great lengths to forget. Some use alcohol or drugs while others take a vacation or maybe just a long nap. We allow our senses to be consumed and deadened by binge-watching the latest series, mindlessly scrolling through social media or losing ourselves in a video game. All of these things (either intentionally or unintentionally) have the effect of making us lose touch with reality and cause us to disengage with life. But while there is a time and place for rest, relaxation and even dis-engagement for a season, we must not allow that to become normal. The more we become mindless about the realities of our days, the less we are mindful about our past.

Memorial Day is one of those occasions when we take time to remember. We remember those who have served for the defense of our freedoms and have died doing so. We visit the graves of those parents, grandparents and special loved ones that have made some contribution to the lives we are living today. In a day and age when so many in our culture are tearing down our memorials, removing our statues, and trying to revise our history, this is especially important. We must set aside a day to make a conscious effort to remember.

When Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament, he had already gained many life experiences. God had given him great wisdom, wealth, and power as the king of Israel. He had tried literally EVERYTHING to bring himself contentment, happiness and joy. After living much of his life as one giant rumspringa (refer to the Pennsylvania Dutch for more information on that), he had come to some conclusions about life and sat down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to pen the book of Ecclesiastes so that others might benefit from his wisdom and experiences. What would Solomon have us to learn?

1. History Repeats Itself – “the thing that hath been, it is that which shall be”. We must take time to remember because history will come around in the same fashion again. It has been said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” Memorial Day is a time to remember not only what hazards we faced as a nation in the past, but how to avoid them in the future. As individuals, take time to read Ecclesiastes. It will show you just how little has changed with how we are trying to pursue happiness in all the wrong ways.


2. Nothing is New – “there is no new thing under the sun”. We must take time to remember because we aren’t facing some new challenge today. Sure, we may have some new technology or inventions in our era, but there is nothing new about the human condition. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man”. This is what makes the Bible timeless and worth remembering. There is nothing so new you are facing today that God has other men of past ages have faced as well... and God has provided a means of escape from it.


3. Only ONE Thing Matters – “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This was Solomon’s conclusion after trying out everything else that life has to offer. Many years after he was dead and gone, he wanted the readers of this book to know that there is ONE thing worth remembering and living for – our FAITH!

So, take time to remember at this season of the year. Remember those who sacrificed for your freedoms. Learn from the mistakes of the past. Recognize that neither our nation nor you as an individual are facing something entirely new. But especially, look back and remember those models of faith from your past. If you look hard enough, I'm sure there were those who came to find that faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that really matters. Take time to reflect on their faith and then come to know and trust in Christ for yourself. That would make a Memorial Day worth remembering!