In Memoriam

After talking to a friend the other day, I realized that when it all comes down to it, the disagreements between people of different beliefs comes down to their idea about whether or not God exists and if so, how to relate to him. The first point springs debate enought, and the second seems to give birth to a myriad of interpretations, revelations, sects and texts. I'm not about to delve into a "They're wrong and we're right" diatribe, I do however want to make the point that in faith, no matter which one, experience is absolutely essential or else the believer does not have a leg to stand upon. To this effect, our memories are priceless, indicating our past and helping us to creat our future.
To this extent, lets think about Pentecost, which was yesterday. Usually the 50th Sunday after Easter, it coincides with another Jewish Holiday called Shavout, like Easter did with Passover. There is an importance to these paralells. Easter, the day of our Lord's triumph over death and thus deliverance of all peoples coincides with the day that God unleashed the angel of Death and thus delivered His chosen people, the Isrealites. In both instances, God demonstrates his power and authority over death and His desire that we benefit from that. Now moving on to Pentecost and Shavout, God similar demonstrates his genoristy and faithfulness. In this Jewish feast, traditionally know as the feast of the unleavened bread, essentially the first fruits of the harvest were supposed to be offered unto the Lord.
Think back to those people gathered in that upper room, Christ's most loyal followers and the literal firstfruits of His work on earth. Imagine what must have been going through their minds. What did they feel like? I’m sure some were despondent, they probably did not all get to witness the resurrection and maybe some felt as if their teacher were still dead. But they had to have heard of the miraculous appearances of Christ and even grander of His resurrection. However, they still gathered together as a community of faith to commemorate the day that the hand of God moved in the life of that nation.
Don't worry I am going somewhere with this. In the lives of these people we see something remain continuous, God wants us to remember what he has done for us. As Moses told Isreal in Deuteronomy 4:9:
"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."
This was in context of reminding them that they stood before the Spirit of God as he manifested himself on Mount Horeb - where he gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Here you have a spiritual manfestation of God, a "physical" one, and His revelation inscribed on stone. These expriences combined made an impression upon the hearts and minds of the people, leading to remembrance and observation. Get a load of this imagery -
"You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets."
That does not seem like something one would easily forget. Especially if you've seen Charlton Heston's The Ten Commandments, God's special FX are timeless. But here is the essential thing, You and I were not there, but in the next few verses God gives us a device for enjoying the benefits of that experience:
"And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Moses was not going to live forever, but his work did. Not only the text he wrote that became the first few books of the Old Testament, but the traditions that he helped start by being willing to obey God's voice. Now we see that manifestations of God's spirit are essential to letting others experience God's blessing. From generation to generation onwards, the experience and memories of the first give a conduit and precendent for knowing a faithful God.
So we get to the Pentecost, on the feast of the first fruit. We have God again, manifiest Himself spiritually, but now, His spirit rest on each and every person in that room, so much so that their exuberence carries over and other people exprience it, thinking that the former are drunks. But rather, They experience God come down and blossom in his people while paying homage to God doing likewise to their forefathers. God's sense of timing and propriety might seem amazing, but it is only wise that He seek to honor what he has done in the past by continuing to do so in the present and in our lives.
It comes back to this essential, God wants us to experience him and to remember those experiences and treasure them above all, otherwise we will be unable to do what He wants us to do, and to live like we desire to. Our defeat is most imminent not in trials, but in forgetfulness. Each and every time temptation comes, and each and every time we feel overwhelmed, can we remember when the arm of God was not too short to save? Do you have a miracle that God has worked in your life in which He has proved himself mighty, or are you comforted by the experience of others? You can even claim the crossing of the Reed Sea when you feel persecuted and beset upon on all sides. But, you have to be there and be there in faith willing to serve God, that is what memories, experience is supposed to get you back to. Just listen to the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-13
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling."
Paul was afraid like them, but he lent them strenght in urging them to remember Christ and the event of His Crucifixion. Although the scripture is not clear in saying Paul was around at the time of that event, it does record the occasion of a Definitely-not-dead Christ knocking Paul off a horse and blinding him with his Glory - telling him to stop persecuting, change his name and preach His word. What a turn of events. Paul has experienced the ressurected Christ, but in acknowledging the crucified one, he acknowledges not only Christ's deity, but the memories and experiences of others."
Wow, I feel like I could write forever on this topic. However, in conclusion. I would encourage you that this Memorial Day, we do just what is inteneded upon this day; remember. Not only the brave soldiers that sacrificed their lives for this land and our freedom, but the loving God who sacrificed his life for our freedom, happieness, and relationship with him. Let us claim the memories of those who have gone before us, treasure them, be inspired them, and utilize them to act in faith that God will act again and again.

God bless you