Time for Remembering, So We Don’t Repeat What We’ve Forgotten

"Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it,” British statesman Winston Churchill observed back in 1948. The warning remains important today and it’s fitting to keep in mind as we commemorate another Memorial Day, honoring those who have given their lives defending our nation in war. 

 

Some older Americans still remember when it was called “Decoration Day,” because of being a time to honor the war dead by decorating their graves with flowers. Regardless of how we mark this annual observance, it’s important to call to memory the many thousands of lives of men and women who sacrificed through numerous wars so we can still enjoy freedoms we so easily take for granted.

Sadly, there are factions of our society that want to rewrite history, erasing times and events they find distasteful or offensive, and re-envisioning the past as they would like it to be told. In my view this is problematic on many levels, but within the context of this day we should hearken back to Churchill’s immortal words.

 

We all can point to regrettable, even terrible moments in America’s past. Take your pick. But to remove them from remembrance, or whitewash them to reframe them into something they were not, imperils us for repeating these hateful times when humanity was functioning at its darkest.

 

To reinforce this importance, we need look no further than the ancient Israelites, for whom God had performed unimaginable wonders: freeing them from four centuries of slavery in Egypt; parting the Red Sea for them to cross with the Egyptians in hot pursuit; miraculously providing water, then manna and then quail, enough to feed probably more than a million men, women and children for 40 years of wandering. 

 

How could a people forget all of that? And yet, the Scriptures tell us that repeatedly, they did. 

 

Amazingly, it didn’t take the Israelites long to forget how the Lord had blessed them. While still meandering in the wilderness, a consequence of their failure to trust in God’s protective care, Moses admonished them, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands…. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years” (Deuteronomy 8:2-5).

 

Why did Moses issue this warning? Because as he said soon afterward, “Remember this and never forget how you provoked the Lord your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord” (Deuteronomy 9:7). We find many similar admonitions by various prophets throughout the Old Testament. 

 

Apparently things didn’t change much even after Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. How quickly we forget. The apostle Paul had to remind his protégé, Timothy, where to keep his focus as he conducting his own ministry. “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained…. Keep reminding them of these things” (2 Timothy 2:8-14).

 

It's important never to forget what the Lord has done in each of our lives, leading us to become part of His eternal family. Writing to followers of Christ in the ancient city of Ephesus, Paul offered this reminder as encouragement: “remember…you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12-13).

 

And it’s critical to remember how God has guided us through hardships and times of adversity in the past to shore up our faith for facing the uncertain future: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering…. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:32-36).

 

On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the many who gave their lives on battlefields near and distant so we could be a free people. But for those who call themselves disciples of Jesus, every day is a memorial day for bringing to mind all that He has done for us, what He continues to do, and what He has promised to do in eternity future. We dare not forget.

The Importance of Remembrance

“Never forget where you came from!” I’ve heard this phrase in movies, read it in books, and many of us have even received this admonition from elder family members. It’s not just heritage and history; it’s also about understanding the journey of how we got to here from there, and the hardships, challenges and adversity in between.

So it’s disheartening to learn many Americans are virtually ignorant of foundational facts about our country. I’ve seen reports about college students that know virtually nothing about history – the American Revolution or why it was fought; who was engaged in the Civil War; who were the participants in World War II, or even the source of famous quotations. When asked who had made the statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” a number of young people were convinced it must have been a Republican. (I hope you know it was President John F. Kennedy, very much a Democrat.)

“But history is so…yesterday,” I imagine some might complain. “Why dwell on the past? This is today – we need to concentrate on shaping the future.” Yet philosopher and writer George Santayana wisely observed, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We can’t learn from our mistakes if we’re unable or unwilling to remember what we did.

There’s also a positive way of looking at it: We need to remember the hard work and sacrifices made, the blood, sweat and tears shed in pursuit of noble goals that helped get us to where we’ve come, individually and as a society. Sadly, we care less and less about such things.

Remembering is a recurring theme in the Scriptures. Shortly before his death, preparing to pass the baton for leading the Israelites to Joshua, his protégé, Moses sought to urge the people of Israel not to forget the works of God in their past. “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past,” he said. “Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Then Joshua, King David, King Solomon and the prophets frequently hearkened to the past to remind Israel of the wonders God had done for them and urged them to remain faithful to Him. Sadly, the Israelites’ memories wavered repeatedly, often with disastrous consequences.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ had a Passover meal with His closest followers, what we refer to as “the Last Supper.” As He broke the bread and shared the wine, Jesus was establishing what churches around the world observe as Holy Communion. “This do in remembrance of Me,” He said (Luke 22:19).

Underscoring the magnitude of that moment, the apostle Paul reminds us of it in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. Christ is no longer on the cross, but we dare not forget what He did for us, the price He paid, giving His own life as the perfect and permanent atonement for our sins. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Whether we’re seeking to chart the course of our nation; reflecting on past generations within our family lineage; or thinking about our immediate family, where we are now and where we once were, this remembrance principle is critical. Many times, the key to discerning where we’re going is recalling where we’ve been – and what it required to get us from there to here. This is especially true for our lives spiritually.

Comedian Bob Hope used to sing, “Thanks for the Memories.” Indeed, we need to value them, appreciate them, and learn from them.

Remembering Not To Forget

More than three decades ago, one of my first assignments as a new CBMC staff member was to attend a one-day training session to learn how to properly use the daily planner then called "Time:Systems." (You know a daily planner must be good if you need training to use it right.)

Actually, I did learn a lot, especially that every day significant mental energy is expended trying to remind ourselves not to forget important things. The training taught me a simple solution to such forgetfulness: Write it down.

For decades my daily planner has been the solution
to my "forgetter": I just write things down I must remember.

When you write down things you want to remember, you only have to remember where you wrote down the stuff you need to remember. Got it?

I also learned to maintain only one to-do list, not separate lists for work and for personal concerns. That helps you avoid making commitments at work when you already have family obligations, and vice versa. Write it down, keep everything together, and simply remember to review your list occasionally. This frees up your mind for more pressing matters.

One other memory trick I discovered – actually this one I taught myself – was when I think of something I don’t want to forget, wherever and whenever that occurs, write it down immediately. Even if I awaken from a sound sleep.

Early in my newspaper career I learned this lesson the hard way. On a couple occasions I woke up in the middle of the night with great ideas for articles or columns. “That’s good. I’ll have to remember that in the morning,” I thought, before turning over to return to dreamland. Come morning the marvelous idea, whatever it was, was gone. Vanished, like a vapor.

Perhaps it could been the seed for the next great American novel, the secret to world peace, or something of that magnitude. But whatever it was, it had been withdrawn from my memory bank.

So I resolved that whenever I have an idea good enough to wake me up in the wee dark hours, I’d write it down. Right then and there. Whether in a notepad on the nightstand next to my bed, or actually getting up to type it on my computer. In fact, I did that just last night. I woke up with a crazy idea rattling around my mind – no idea where it had come from – but thought, “If I don’t write this down, it won’t be there when I get up in the morning.”

Now whether this idea ever amounts to anything, time will tell. But the point is, I didn’t have to fret about forgetting it. I lost no sleep reminding myself not to forget.

This is one reason God often tells His people, in essence, “Write it down.” For instance, after God used Moses to lead the Israelites to a decisive victory, He directed him, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered…” (Exodus 17:14).

Instructing His people to never forget the greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,” God instructed fathers in Israel to “Impress them on your children…. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

New Testament authors frequently explained the importance of putting into writing the truths and principles that undergirded their faith. The apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1).

There are numerous other examples, but the point is simple: Write down what God has done in your life. So when times come, and they will, that you want to ask, “Lord, what have you done for me lately?” you have a supply of written reminders not only to help you remember His provision in the past, but also His promises for the future.

You can maintain a spiritual journal, make notations in the margins of your Bible, whatever works for you. How you do it makes little difference – just do it. Write what God has done in your life and periodically review what you’ve written.

And while you’re at it, be faithful to regularly read what others have written – in the Word of God. Even Jesus, when tempted by Satan, would respond, “It is written…,” and quote from the Scriptures. If it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us.