"Never Forget" - to what end?

Ten years ago today the United States was attacked by Terrorists. The destruction of the two towers of the world trade center are vividly remembered. Today many had as their Facebook status and tweets "Never Forget". Why?

Before I jump into that, this morning's sermon was on the text of 2 Samuel 1. David has just learned that Saul, the king who had been pursuing him to death, and Jonathan, the king's son who was also David's great friend, have died in battle. How did he respond to the death of his rival?

"Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!" - 2 Samuel 1:19 (c.f. 27).

David mourns the fact that Saul, the anointed of the Lord and leader of His people Israel, has died. Why? Personally, Saul's death will be very advantageous to David. Why doesn't he rejoice?

This topic then leads the Christian to the following passages: Romans 12:15 and Matthew 5:4.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

David didn't rejoice because he mourned the loss to the people of Israel. His mourning with them put him closer to them. We, too, should mourn with those who mourn... not that we should be lost in a world without hope, but that like Christ we should bring the hope of Christ to a world that is lost.

So, back to "never forget". Is the desire to "never forget" an excuse to never forgive? Does our grief lead us to become mongers of hate against the Muslim extremists? If so, what will happen after years of dehumanizing a faceless enemy? We would likely become the terrorists.

If "never forget" is to remember the sacrifice of first responders who put themselves in harm's way to protect others, this is worthwhile to remember. The selfless acts of such men and women should draw our eyes to the One who put Himself in our place.

I think the part I hope to "never forget" is how the nation was humbled and turned to God in repentance and faith. Are we still humbled? Or have we grown proud once again? God brought Israel down from their pride by conquering them by a pagan king - Nebuchadnezzar. God then humbled Nebuchadnezzar, the height of human power of his day. God can and will humble us. Let us repent and turn to Him. As we remember the loss to this nation of 10 years ago, let us weep with those who still hurt. But let us bring them the hope of Jesus Christ.

Bricks

During the month before classes began I chipped away at the work study hours for my first year. Before classes began I had over 100 hours! Praise the Lord! A majority of work was pressure washing, cleaning bricks, and painting (a shed, windows, whiteboards, and parking lot stripes). This type of work was really enjoyable for me. Yes, you heard me right. I enjoyed the physical labor. I think part of it was the fact that for the past five years I’ve spent most of my days sitting in front of a computer or at best crouched over a circuit board with a soldering iron. The work that I’ve been able to do reminded me that God gave me a body - a body that is strong and capable. There’s more though. I think the best thing about painting (or pressure washing, etc.) is the time it affords the mind to think. Let me share with you my thoughts:

Bricks are used to build buildings and walls. They are held together by mortar. Together, they distribute weight, support one another, and form an even and stable barrier to wind, rain, sun, bugs and persons. Bricks together are a unit. You don’t usually look at the side of a brick house and say, “Look at those bricks”. You might say, “Look at that wall” or “look at that building”. They form a whole. That is the good side of bricks and mortar. During my work with bricks last month, however, I saw another side. There was once a shed at the opening of the entry to the Seminary Parking Lot. It was here when I visited a year ago. It was not here when my wife and I moved in. Instead, there was a large pile of bricks elsewhere on the grounds. My work was to “clean” a portion of these bricks. This meant firing a 3600 PSI pressure washer at the bricks until the old mortar came off. As the dirt and old bits of sand removed from the bricks they flew everywhere, even sometimes sticking to me. The work was a little bit like Christ’s work. Let me explain. These old bricks were useless. They were “rubble”. They weren’t fit for new construction. Why? They still had the old mortar stuck to them. That which originally held them to one another and made them a cohesive whole was now keeping them from being clean - from being useful in a new wall. All that changed when they were washed. This mortar and sand and dirt was removed - through a pressure intensive process - and ended up off the bricks - and on me! Once cleaned the bricks were as good as new and were stacked neatly and will soon be put to use in repairing an old wall. The analogy is like this: we are dirty bricks. Not just dirty... but useless rubble. We have sins which cause us to cling to the world and to other sinful persons. Christ breaks up the sin. He works powerfully by the Holy Spirit to remove the power of sin over our hearts. He even took our sins upon Himself and died for them... for us. By His work we are renewed. We are then united in a new building project. Christ builds us into His Church.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 2:4-5

Maybe its a bit of a stretch. Maybe I had too much time to think. Even so, I marvel that Jesus Christ has chosen to use a stone (or even a pebble) like me in His Building. To Him be the glory!