I was thinking about talking about 1 Timothy this Sunday about doing stuff against “sound doctrine” and false teachers, but my brain realized this week that this is Memorial Day Weekend.  A day of memories.  That is what the word means.  Although it is often confused with Veterans Day.  It is a day to remember all military who have passed.  There are three days to honor our veterans.  Veterans Day Honors those still living, Armed forces day honors those still serving.  Memorial Day is for those who have passed on.  I still remember, as a child, going to the cemetery with my Dad to mow the grave sites and clean up the old flowers so everything would be clean and neat for this big day.  Now everyone has a company that does that cleanup for them, but it is still a day to remember and respect those who have died.  As my day, it is the memory of my Father who saved my life.  My biological father versus my  Holy Father.  I even have a tattoo dedicated to him that says savior, father, hero.  Although we may place little value in traditions and inherited family customs like cemetery cleanup, Memorial Day is hard to forget because it is about memories.  Most people seem to like Memorial Day because it is a day off from work.  A chance to grill and relax, but it is actually about memories of those who have passed on. Jesus gave us words to deal with the loss that you feel.  If you believe in the scripture and Him, it is easy. Jesus personally knew those feelings and He experienced those emotions at the death of His good friend Lazarus. Jesus knew the pain of loss and deep sorrow. And of course, He knows the incredible power of death. It is natural to feel sad and mourn the death of a loved one, but Jesus can also lift you up if you let him. In memory, open your arms to him and ask for his peace because Jesus made a promise in John 14:1-7 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

So here, Jesus told us the pathway and the right way to remember.  If you review the Bible, there is a lot of emphasis on remembering those who have transitioned to heaven.  There are stories of mourning and great sadness.  In Leviticus, it even talks about how NOT to remember.  In Leviticus 19:28 it says” ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  One of the first mentions of remembering in the way that God wanted is Exodus 28:9-12 when they were talking about Aaron’s clothes.  “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel ¹⁰ in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. ¹¹ Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings ¹² and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod (eh·faad) as memorial stones for the sons of Israel.  Now an ephod was an apron vestment that was worn by the Jewish high priests. To be worn during ceremonies with the shoulder pieces to memorialize the 12 sons of Israel.  This is just one example, but what is overall important to remember is that over and over, a call to remember is repeated throughout scripture. With Memorial Day upon us it is proper to think of the past and of those who have gone from this world, but for those of us who are Christians, we are blessed with knowing that this is not about looking back but also about looking forward to the room that is waiting for us and those who have passed before us.  There is no need to dwell upon what has been. For we believe that more wondrous things are yet to come for those people of faith who have already died. We live in light of the resurrection, and we believe that death will not be the end.

PRAY: Take a silent moment to thank God for your own personal saviors and heroes.

Lord, our Prince of Peace, we wish we understood Your thoughts and Your plans and we thank you for telling us the pathway and the right way.  In the great master plan, it is often hard to understand the why. We may not understand why our loved ones must leave, but we pray for Your peace. And here on Memorial Day, help us to always remember that even though we are missing them, they are truly in a better place and to be happy for them. Dear Lord, We humbly beseech Thy mercy, that Thou would place the soul of all your servants, which You have caused to depart from this world, into the region of peace and light.  Let us remember our military who fought for our peace.  All these things we pray in your most Holy Name. AMEN