Memorials Can be Forgotten
Intro:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Read it
Everything has its season (Pause)
Everything has its appropriate time (Pause)
This weekend is the time for some memories
The service of our nation’s servants (Pause)
This weekend we need to be looking to the past and present service (Pause)
Of our nation’s military personnel who gave a portion of their life to be available
And to risk death on the battlefields of this world
So that we may continue to live in liberty provided by God. (Pause)
But, you see, memories and memorials can be forgotten. (Pause)
Reported on the news just yesterday, a world war I memorial built in Washington, D.C. has been forgotten and unattended. (Pause)
Its stone columns and engravings are wrought with cracks and ugly black stains.
It is hidden to some degree in a semi-circle of hedges which make it hard to see unless you walk upon it closely. (Pause)
And in contradiction to most memorials of such a grave nature.
There are no posted signs leading anyone to it. (Pause)
Hidden away, unattended, completely forgotten. (Pause)
The further something is away from us, the easier it is to put aside in memory. (Pause)
Because of the current war on terrorism raging throughout this world
Our servicemen of today are looked to with much respect and gratitude.
And they should be looked to in that way.
But, our men and women who still walk the face of this earth and fought in past wars from WWI to WWII
To Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Afhganistan and Grenada
And many other battles around this world through out our history have largely been forgotten in many ways, by many people. (Pause)
When a military soldier is awarded the congressional metal of honor,
As all other soldiers pass by him, he is to be saluted. (Pause)
Even if he is an enlisted man, commissioned officers are to salute him
Because his sacrifice and accomplishment are to be recognized above all others. (Pause)
Jesus said that there is no greater love in all the world that when a friend is willing to lay down his life for another. (Pause)
In war, some die and some do not.
But, all put themselves at risk to do so
and our military service men who have made themselves available to be at risk and to accomplish the task of defending our liberty,
should be always remembered and looked upon in a special way
because of his sacrifice and accomplishments.
As great and as wonderful are the sacrifices of men
There is still one whose sacrifice and accomplishments are greater than all. (Pause)
And while we may honor men who have given so much of themselves for our benefit with salutes, song and prayer,
There is yet one who deserves all honor, all glory, and all praise.
Men may have provided us with temporary earthly liberty, but there is one who has provided us with freedom eternally.
Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and king of kings.
And I can never say that enough
He is the Lion of Judah, that bright and morning star
He is the great liberator, our great provider and redeemer.
He died to save you from your sins and set you free.
He has always been there and he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Pause)
So today I want to give you three reasons we should remember Christ’s sacrifice.
I. Because it is Truth
Matthew 28:11 – 15 Read it.
From the very beginning of Christ’s resurrection there have been those who have worked to hide and distort the truth. (Pause)
But, you see, not even the distortion of the truth is reasonable. (Pause)
Either the body of Christ was stolen, or it is resurrected.
Either the guards fell asleep on their watch, or they didn’t.
Either the stone was rolled away while they slept so that the body of Christ could be moved, or it wasn’t. (Pause)
When I was n the Marine Corps, I served as a Military Policeman. (Pause)
There came a time that I was changed from the day shift to the night shift. (Pause)
My first night on this new shift, I was posted at a check point to the flight line during a time that the base was considered to be in a state of duress.
Because of an elevated alert status
During my shift of 12 hours in the middle of the night, I unintentionally fell asleep. (Pause)
My staff NCO found me, woke me up, and gave me only that moment of grace because it was my first night on shift.
But, had I been caught ever again, I would have seen a Court Marshal. (Pause)
The story of the Roman soldiers posted to keep watch over the tomb of Christ is that they both fell asleep during their shift. (Pause)
And if you believe that, then let me know because I have some oceanfront property a mile down the road I want to sell you.
You see, the Roman army was the world’s army
They conquered all that they intended to do
They were known for their discipline, their strength, their skill, their courage
And the penalty for sleeping on duty was stiff
Roman soldiers didn’t fall asleep on duty especially two of them together. (Pause)
When I fell asleep, and it was wrong, I was alone.
And I imaging if I had been posted with another Marine, he would have tapped me on the shoulder as I dozed off.
So to believe that two Roman soldiers posted together were asleep goes beyond reason. (Pause)
But, then to believe that the stone could be rolled away without their knowledge goes further beyond reason.
You see the entrance to the tomb was large enough for a man to walk through.
So the stone to cover it would need to be large enough to encompass that size hole. (Pause)
So not only did the Roman guard sleep on duty, but moving that big stone without waking them stretches reason. (Pause)
Could the body of Christ have been hidden?
Had all the Roman guards fallen asleep, and the stone moved without waking them? (Pause)
Sure it could. (Pause)
But, this is the thing (Pause)
For forty days Christ showed himself
For forty days Christ walked down roads, walked through locked doors
Christ fed Peter breakfast on the beach
He let Thomas touch his scars
He ate fish and bread
And then he ascended into Heaven right in front of their eyes. (Pause)
Dead bodies cannot do that, zombies are for television
Dead people do not walk and talk, they don’t eat and fellowship. (Pause)
But, you see resurrected bodies do, and it is God alone that does the resurrecting.
II. It is Commanded
I Corinthians 11:24, 25 Read it
Remembering the sacrifice of Christ is not to be taken lightly. (Pause)
It is to be done regularly, and it is to be done in obedience. (Pause)
Exodus 12:1 – 14 Read it
This memory or memorial of Christ began during Moses’ time and failure to observe it was to fall under the plague. (Pause)
Death would come upon every house that did not apply the blood.
God said take the blood from the unblemished and slaughtered lamb and apply it to your doorposts
And if you do not, the plague of Egypt will befall you.
The death of the first born will come to every house that does not apply the blood.
And what you need to know today is that failure to apply the blood of Christ will also result in death.
We are not to observe Passover in that manner, but the blood must still be applied. (Pause)
Christians who have truly applied the blood of Christ are going to give time to remembrance
Christians who have truly applied the blood of Christ will look to Christ’s words “This do in remembrance of me.”
And take part with both desire and effort for it must be done as we have been commanded.
III. It Points to the Future
Exodus 12
The Passover pointed to the future. (Pause)
Read vs. 5 – 7
A lamb was to be taken for the purpose of sacrifice and it was not just any old lamb.
But scripture says it was to be a lamb without blemish.
That word “blemish” can be used to describe either a physical aspect and a characteristic
Either way, it include a lack of defilement.
And something that is complete and or mature. (Pause)
This lamb that was of full age and undefiled pointed to the future
And is spoken of in Isaiah 53:7 – 12 Read it
And this lamb was revealed in John 1:29 Read it
And all this was confirmed in I. Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore, the old leaven that ye may be of a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. (Pause)
The Passover lamb pointed to the future
The blood applied to the door pointed to the future
And the ordinance of the Lord’s supper points us still further points us to the future. (Pause)
Because while the bread is the body, the wine is the blood.
Jesus said during the Passover feast that He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until the day of the marriage feast.
So while we remember Christ’s sacrifice, that shedding of His blood, the slaughter of the unblemished lamb
We may also look to the future when Christ’s next drink of wine will be
Revelations 19: 7,9 Read it
The feast of the lamb
Begin in Exodus, and ends in Revelation
And while we celebrate and remember many suppers, they are all leading to Revelation Chapter 19.
Where we will all be eating with the true lamb, we will celebrate instead of memorialize
We will be blessed instead of asking for a blessing
The bride will be with the groom
The church will be with Christ
There will be praising
There will be glorifying
There will be singing and rejoicing
And while we remember the body and blood of Christ that was slain for the remission of our sins
We can also look to that great and wonderful day when the saints of God will be fully redeemed
We will share fully in the glory Christ spoke of in John Chapter 17.
This ordinance is to be done in remembrance and honor
But it is to perpetuate us to a spirit of joy and thankfulness of our living hope that is itself living, undefiled, incorruptible and can never fade away
It is a hope of the future sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept the power of God
It is a sure thing
It is to be believed and expected, and we are to look forward to it in great anticipation. (Pause)
Memorials can and are forgotten, but this memorial is to be neither.
If you are here today and are not sure that you will take part in that marriage feast of the lamb
As is described in Revelation Chapter 19
If you do not know 100% sure that you will go to Heaven when you die
Then what I want you to do is to step out of your pew during the singing of the invitation (Pause)
We will talk with you privately, men with men, ladies with ladies
And show you how you can leave here today knowing 100% for sure that you will go to Heaven. (Pause)
Scripture tells us that we can know I John 5:13.
Come during the singing.
