Service of Remembrance

Pastor Arnie Wyllie

Once a year, we have a ‘Service of Remembrance’ when we remember our war heroes on Remembrance Day. There seems to be a lot of talk about how Canadians get very little credit, if any at all, for their wartime efforts. The Americans and the British seem to get all the headlines. However, one British newspaperman, Kevin Myers, wrote an article for his newspaper, the Sunday Telegraph of London, indicating he recognized the Canadian involvement concerning world peace. The following is a portion of that article: “Canada is every bit as alert to the achievements of its sons and daughters as the rest of the world is completely unaware of them. The Canadians proudly say of themselves - and are unheard by anyone else – that one per cent of the world’s population has provided 10 per cent of the world’s peacekeeping forces. Canadian soldiers, in the past half century, have been the greatest peacekeepers on Earth, in 39 missions on United Nations mandates, and six on non-UN peacekeeping duties, from Vietnam to East Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia.” Why do we have a ‘Service of Remembrance?’ Someone at the Remembrance Day service last week said, “The soldier’s greatest fear is not dying. The soldier’s greatest fear is being forgotten.” Lest We Forget! The church also has a ‘Service of Remembrance’. It is a sacrament known in various churches by different names: the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion. Communion symbolically recreates the Last Supper of Jesus and His disciples on the evening prior to His Crucifixion. We recognize and remember the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Most people have heard someone say, “Jesus died on the Cross for you!” but most people have no idea what that means exactly. Communion reminds the church community, regularly, of exactly why Jesus Christ died. Communion also reminds us of Jesus’ whole life and purpose. And of equal importance, we are reminded that - someday soon - Jesus Christ will return. How can someone who “died” return? We remember Jesus’ death on Good Friday. We celebrate His resurrection from death on Easter. He is alive and lives forever. He told us He will return. Jesus does not get in the headlines very often - if at all. He is God and our Creator, yet He goes unrecognized, ignored and unknown to much of the world. An even less know fact about Jesus is He is our Saviour - a living Saviour. What does He save us from? Sin - in this life. And hell - in eternity. The church community remembers this and celebrates this reality by means of regular Communion services. Why do we have a ‘Service of Remembrance’ in the church community? Was Jesus’ afraid of dying and death. No! And He proved that. Was Jesus’ greatest fear, the fear of being forgotten? If ever Jesus “feared” anything, the fear of being forgotten might be it. But fear was not part of Jesus’ nature. God knows no fear. However, Jesus is saddened, distressed and distraught when we forget, ignore or are outright hostile toward Him. Jesus is saddened when those who call Him “Saviour” do not share that reality with others who do not know Him. We forget what He saved us from. We forget that He forgave our sins. We forget that He saved us from an eternity in hell. This saving reality is not something to be hoarded. The salvation of Jesus is something to be shared with all. Someone prayed for each and every person who repented and asked Jesus for forgiveness. Someone witnessed to each and every person who asked Jesus to be Saviour and Lord. Praying and witnessing are not optional components of a Christian’s life. God has scheduled a ‘Service of Remembrance’. It will be called Judgment Day! No one knows when Judgment Day will take place. On this day, God will “remember” all we have done - and not done - with our life. On Judgment Day, will God say to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Let us celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:21) Remember, Jesus always and all ways, not just on special occasions! Remember, Jesus for the eternal good of others and your own good! Lest We Forget!