“What happens when we look back?”
As I sat down to write today’s meditation, one question kept demanding to be answered: What is the real purpose behind our looking back at our history? Over the years, I have known there is no good reason not to look back, but I needed to answer this question clearly so that the deeper significance of our annual activities would come to light.
There are several things that happen when we look back at our history: 1. We reflect on how far we have come as a people.
- We honor our ancestors who made sacrifices and who accomplished great things that benefit us still today.
- We consider where we are today, and with a hopeful heart, we determine to continue striving towards freedom and equality and reward.
Interestingly, each of these things has a spiritual benefit. When we reflect on how far we have come as a people, we must acknowledge God’s presence in our story. The Gospel truth was never far removed from the cries for freedom in those old days! When we look back, we can see the bigger picture and better understand God’s plan at work for all of humanity. When we honor our ancestors for their sacrifices and accomplishments, we have no choice but to also honor God! We find examples of God’s love, and deliverance, and blessings. We know that everything we are and everything we have is because of God. And when we consider where we are today, hope arises in us anew. We know that all things work together for our good. Our history teaches us about unity, about faith, and about sacrifice in a way that should help us to better understand the principles of our Christian beliefs.
From the beginning of man, since Satan entered in and had his way, there has been a people bound up in sin in some fashion. Oppression and all of its ugliness has been a problem for many centuries. Even today, some ugly situation makes the headlines and a new movement is spawned to take it on. Some of you will sit here and dwell on the many issues we all face and become overwhelmed. But let me caution you against that. We have a future hope that should turn all of the present-day evil on its head. Hope is the one ingredient we must nurture—in ourselves and in those we have an opportunity to affect. We must maintain hope. Hope is the reason we are here today. Hope is the reason we look forward to tomorrow. Hope is the reason we keep going.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. —Rom. 15:13