The Old Testament book 2 Kings, in Chapter 22, tells of the time in Israel’s history when King Josiah is presented with the Book of the Law, which had been found after decades of being lost within the clutter of the mis-used Temple. For centuries, the Book of the Law had prominently featured in the lives of the people of Israel, reminding them of who they were as God’s people, detailing the mighty things that God had done for them and instructing them on how God wanted them to live and worship. Yet when it was finally read to Josiah, the information in the Book of the Law had been forgotten and the lives of the people definitely reflected that reality. When the King finally heard the words of God’s Law, and realized how far astray the people had gone, he tore his clothes and mourned deeply, then sought to bring his nation back in line with God’s intended purposes.
It is remarkable how far astray we can go when we forget important parts of our past. Our default setting is to assume that the world has always been the way that we experience it today, and it seems that we also assume that the way things are for us must be the way that they are for everyone. Without our clear understanding of what actually has been, our assumptions will fill in the blanks with information that can be counter-factual and counterproductive. After all, we all remember what happens when we assume.
Our nation didn’t get to the point where we are today because people have always enjoyed this level of freedom or affluence or opportunity. We live in a remarkable nation, one that is the envy of the majority of the world. But we have forgotten what got us here – not simply the values and battles fought nearly 250 years ago, but the subsequent struggles and battles that we have waged internally to secure further freedoms, so often driven by the understanding that we are indeed endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. So many men and women have fought and died for that core principle that has sustained our nation, and while we remember them this Memorial Day weekend, we seem to have forgotten the struggle and the cause.
If God didn’t give us our inalienable rights, then they were given by man. And what man gives, man can take away. But there is another outcome that is even worse than having man take away our rights. You see, what Josiah found out was that God, having been forgotten and forsaken by His people, decided to turn them over to the nations that sought their wealth and influence. It was already too late for a revival. In just a few years, Josiah would be killed, and not long after that, his kingdom would be overtaken by the Babylonian empire and the people taken into exile. What God did to Israel then, God can easily do to us today if we continue to turn our backs on Him and mock his Law. We may decry injustice in this world, but I assure you, God’s justice will be far harsher on our nation.
This weekend, we must take time to remember those who gave their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today. But we must also remember that they fought and died precisely because there was a cause worth fighting for, and at the root of that cause is a God who gave us the rights and moral laws that have helped our nation ascend to heights otherwise unknown to this world. If we forget the cause, not only do we offend God, but we make a mockery of the sacrifice that we are supposedly honoring with this holiday. For the sake of our nation, and all who look to our country as a beacon of hope, I plead with you to not let that happen.
This weekend, remember the men and woman who died for our nation, and say a word of thanks. But then, remember all that God has done as well, and give Him the glory due his name.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron