"LEST WE FORGET"

The last Monday of the month of May is celebrated as Memorial Day each year in our nation. It began with the purpose of decorating the graves of the soldiers who fought in the War Between the States, 1861-64. However, all of our fallen military personnel are remembered on this day. I spoke on one occasion on Memorial Day in the military section of a cemetery in Prattville, Alabama. I had two visual aids in my hands. One was the Purple Heart that was given to my parents after my oldest brother was killed in WWII on April 5, 1945. The other one was a flag that had been placed by my brother’s grave in a military cemetery in the Netherlands. There is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling entitled “Recessional’ (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia) that I think is very appropriate on this occasion and here are two stanzas of the poem: “God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line, Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine – Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget – Lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the kings depart. Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, And humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Host, be with us yet, Lest we forget – lest we forget.” The following biblical truths should always be taught and practiced – “Lest We Forget”: 1. We need to remember Jesus Christ when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26. 2. We are to remember those saints who died for the cause of Christ. Colossians 4:18 3. We should always remember our salvation from our sins. 2 Peter 1:5-11. 4. We need to remember that we are to be faithful to Christ. Luke 17:32; I Corinthians 10:12; Revelation 2:5; Luke 9:62. 5. We are to remember the poor and needy. Galatians 2:10; Hebrews 13:16; Galatians 6:10; James 1:27. 6. The youth are to remember God. Ecclesiastes 12:1, 2 7. Remember that the Lord is coming again. II Peter 3: l-10; John 14:1-3. If we fail to remember God in this life and His Word for us to learn and practice, there will come a time when our remembrance will not be pleasant. Please observe these words as found in Luke 16:25: “But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” It is wonderful however to remember that God will forgive and forget our sins and iniquities if we will obey Him and live for Jesus. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, And in their minds I will write them, then He adds, Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16, 17). Our Lord has promised if we are faithful, He will give us “the crown of life” Revelation 2:10.