We Will Never Forget

In the days preceding the eleventh anniversary of the infamous 9/11 attack on prime U.S. targets, many scenes on television, newspapers and Facebook restated the sincere resolve, “We will never forget.”

Why?

Though tragic beyond comprehension, the 9/11 horrors brought out our best – making us a UNITED States for many days. But within months sensitivities, politics, greed and jealousies began contaminating the pure stream of unity, with divisive clamor rising even from among those blood stained ashes at Ground Zero.

“We will never forget,” today, is becoming “We forget.” In another 11 years, a generation will begin asking, “What’s so special about 9/11,” parallel to the ignorance of the reason behind July 4^th or Memorial Day or “Turkey Day.” No clue . . . the blood, sweat and tears that initially singled out those days.

Joshua, the Israelite leader, predicted future generations ignorant of God’s power in backing up the Jordan River – even at flood stage – allowing the entire nation to cross the river bed on dry ground into the Promised Land. A column of 12 large stones was piled on the west bank for a visual memorial.

“In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” [Joshua 4:21] His hope: We will never forget.

In the book of Acts, the first day of the week was the prominent day for Christians who met to fellowship, hear the Apostles’ teaching, commune with Christ and pray together. [Acts 2:42] Some 66 years later, the apostle John, though banished on an isolated island, wrote, “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit.” [Revelation 1:10]  A generation who got it.

Like we are seeing the significance of 9/11 melting, like Joshua saw the future need for the pile of 12 stones, our Lord saw the rationale for his followers to regularly participate in the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper. All three the same – so we will never forget.