A Night to "Remember"

Isaiah 46 records the words of God to His people:
9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me...


Jesus said to His disciples in John chapter 16:
4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 


And in Deuteronomy 8, we see these words:
1 "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.


It was a night for remembering as the 2012 Academy Awards were handed out for the last time at the venue known as the Kodak Theater, which is withdrawing its sponsorship of the hall in the wake of its bankruptcy.   And, while we can fondly remember the effect that Kodak films and cameras have had on our lives, what transpired on the stage can also give us a cause to remember.

"The Artist" won 5 awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor - and for the first time since 1928, a silent film won an Oscar, hearkening to days gone by.   Another "retro" type of film, Martin Scorcese's "Hugo", also picked up 5 golden statues, as the legendary filmmaker paid tribute to some of the techniques of the past.   And, how about Meryl Streep's third Oscar, for her portrayal of a major historical figure, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady".   82-year-old Christopher Plummer won the Best Supporting Actor nod, and Montgomery's own Octavia Spencer took home yet another award for her role in "The Help", which was set in the early 60's in Jackson, Mississippi.

For the Christian, the past can be painful, but also instructive.   God says that He remembers our sins no more, casting them into the sea of forgetfulness, so it is true that He wants to heal us from the pain of past mistakes.   But, He also wants us to remember His goodness, to remember and share what Jesus has done in our lives, and to draw strength from thinking on instances of His faithfulness.  Furthermore, I think as a nation we need to remember God and the principles upon which we are founded.   So, while we are not called to "live in the past", experience can be a powerful teacher.