Memorial Day: There is No Rembrance of the Former Things...

Introduction

This weekend is an annual national observant of those men and women who gave their blood, sweat, tears, times, and ultimately their lives serving our nation. It is a day of remembrance and sober and solemn reflection. Throughout the Bible there are many examples of remembrance and memorials. Today I want to start by looking at a unique location in Scripture for this Memorial Day.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 NKJV

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of three books (or portions of books) written by King Solomon.

I want us to look at verses 9-11.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

9  What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything truly new? Not really. Sure technology might change, but we as humans really never change. Talk to people who lived 100 years ago and many of same things were happening (it is just more broadcast now). There is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 NKJV

Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.

HoIt has already happened before.

Ecclesiastes 1:11 NKJV

There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

Let’s break down this verse.

There is no remembrance of former things.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

Only a handful of people are remembered for more than a generation.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 23A: Ecclesiastes Comment

11 One reason for the denial in v 10 is now given: there is no (active, as Odeberg would put it) memory of the past, nor in turn, of the future. It makes little difference whether the reference of past and future is to persons or events; if people are forgotten, so are events. O. Loretz (Qohelet, 225–30) narrows the perspective to deeds and events that create a name and reputation. But Qoheleth seems to have in mind more than that basic concern. Memory is as flat as the experience described in vv 3–8, and it does not serve to liberate humans from the monotony of life.

Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after.

Sure we might know dates and names, but we do not truly remember them. We often use phrases like “Never Forget September 11, 2001” or “Never Forget Pearl Harbor” or “Remember D-Day”. Yet, those events how can they be remembered? I have an experience with September 11, 2001. I experienced that day. I can in my mind’s eye travel back to that day and remember and experience those feelings again. Yet, for someone who was born say in 2002 or even 2000 there is no remembrance of that former thing. Sure we have videos and photos and they will give them an emotional response, but it is not part of their mind and experience.

For me I didn’t experience JFK’s assassination. I can see videos, pictures, and hear stories but I didn’t experience that event. I have no remembrance of the former things.

How does this related to Memorial Day

So how does this related to Memorial Day. When I think about these verses I think about why we celebrate Memorial Day. To honor those who have given their all for our nation. Yet, most of the men and women who died in the line of duty for our very young nation (no even 250 years old yet) their names (save for a few) and stories are gone. Parts of their memory might live on in a diary or journal that is unearthed from the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. Maybe their name is carved into a piece of stone, but there is truly no remembrance of former things. Yet, because of what they did, we are here today.

Even if we do not know all their names their lives and what they did are the building blocks of where we are today.

How does this related to us as Christians

Let us take it one step further. How does this related to us as believers in Jesus Christ?

How will you be remembered? Or maybe the better question is, “will you be remembered?” Will what you and me are be remembered beyond our time on this earth?

I often think of 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

1 Corinthians 3:5–17 NKJV

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Our memory should be something that points others to Jesus Christ. That even if our name disappears within a generation or even less, will the building blocks like those who died in the line of duty for a higher cause help the next generation see Jesus Christ. Serving and dying for your nation is a high calling, but serving and living for Jesus Christ is the highest calling.

Homework / Conclusion

As we have been going through testimonies of how we came to Jesus Christ. Think of those who God used as building blocks in your life. God used Paul, God used Apollos as we saw in that passages in 1 Corinthians, but God gave the increase. Yet, God used them. Who did God use in your life? How is God using you as an instrument and tool in someone else’s life? Ultimately, our legacy is our fruit in the living and spreading of the Gospel.

This past week I found an article that my great-grandfather the Rev. Eugene Cecil Olcott wrote in 1962.

How far has your “candle light shone?” God sent His Son to bring light to a dark world. From this “One Light” its rays have compassed the globe. However, the vehicle has been men. The baptism of the Holy Spirit on man has filled and moved him until, like the yeast in the batter, it has permeated the whole. Your life was created to be constructive, a light in dark places. Although but a candle in the darkness of ignorance, lighted with the moving power of the Holy Spirit, it can give light to those around you. How far has your candle light shone? Jesus said in His sermon on the mountain, St. Matthew 5:14 and 16: “Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.” Will this “Lenten season make you a ‘light giver’”?

I never met my great-grandfather Olcott, but some of the building blocks he lay from those who had been a faithful witness to him would be used by the LORD to lead me to the saving knowing of Jesus Christ. This Memorial Day weekend as we reflect and remember those whom gave the ultimate sacrifice, even if we do not know their names, we are living on the building blocks that they lay. Remember also the building blocks, the people who shone their light for Jesus and were a faithful witness of Him in your life. Ask yourself how can you shine your light for Jesus to those around you.