Become a living memorial to God's love

Well, school’s out, and next Monday is Memorial Day, which often is associated with the beginning of the summer vacation season.

First, congratulations graduates! The junior and senior years of high school and college are usually the toughest, but you stuck it out despite the pandemic that brought about traumatic changes in your educational process.

Congratulations even more so to those who completed two-year associates of arts or sciences degrees, about three-fourths of which would have taken place during the pandemic. For all of you, your fortitude in completing this phase of your education is very commendable, and we wish you well in your future endeavors. Succeeding in trying times will greatly increase your likelihood of future success (James 1:2-8; Romans 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Thanks also to all the educators who navigated the pandemic with online teaching and then went back into the classroom with hybrid and fully in-person instruction when called to do so. That’s the sort of attitude that lays up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; 10:42; 25:31-40).

Sometimes treasures on earth also are a benefit, but the actions must be the fruit of proper purpose and attitude (Matthew 7:15-20; 26:6-13; 5:14-16; 6:1-4, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Just think how people view Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold for their misdeeds centuries, even over a millennium after they died. compared to Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), who’s remembered for compassion and hospitality, and Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the founder of modern nursing (Proverbs 10:6-7).

I cannot state with any assurance that anyone remembered by humankind as being “good” has gone to heaven, because God is the final judge of those things as the one who knows every person’s heart, although we might have a good idea because the fruit of living to please God is recognizable and rises up to him as a memorial offering (Matthew 7:21-27; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 5:9-10; Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 5:8-11; Acts 10:1-4; Leviticus 2:1-2).

The Old Testament gives many examples of how God wants humankind to keep memorials to his love for his people and their love for and responsibility to him (For some examples: Exodus 28:11-13, 22-29; Numbers 10:8-10; Joshua 4:1-7).

God also has left us with memorials under the New Covenant established in the New Testament. First, his indwelling Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance as his children (Galatians 3:26-4:7; Romans 8:19-17; Ephesians 1:3-14). God’s word is another constant reminder of his love for us and our responsibilities to him (2 Peter 1:3-15). Finally, the Lord’s Supper has been given as a weekly memorial of our relationship with God (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Acts 20:7).

Of course, everything I’ve written in this article about perseverance leading to future success and laying up treasure in heaven as the sweet aroma of our memorial offerings actually only pertains to those who are God’s children (Matthew 16:24-27; Revelation 14:13). By this kind of living, we become memorials to God and the world (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Are you a living memorial to God’s love (Romans 12:1-16; 6:1-23)?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].