The Captain’s Corner
Today my wife, Brenda, sat in a very special seat—aboard a Boeing B-29 bomber (“Fifi”). In a similar seat, her dad, Ben Strohbehn, flew twenty-six missions as a flight navigator during the Korean Conflict. Brenda was tearful as she looked around the small navigation compartment. The dedicated Commemorative Air Force staff and crew comforted her over her tears of remembrance. “It happens all the time,” they said. The Commemorative Air Force flies and maintains this vintage bomber—one of only two in flying condition—to educate people about the sacrifices of those who have fought for our country and its freedom.
Likewise, God’s Word has many admonitions to us, as children of faith in Christ, to remember God and His works on our behalf. It reminds us, in times of prosperity, to remember all that He has done for us. Deuteronomy 4:9 admonishes us: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.” Similar admonitions to “beware, lest you forget” are found in Deuteronomy 6:12 and 8:11–18.
In the New Testament, Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper to help us remember that He sacrificed His very life to pay the penalty for our sins. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
Remembering Christ’s sacrifice helps us appreciate our salvation so that our gratitude and thanksgiving are more readily expressed to God. Additionally, remembering His sacrifices for us reinforces our motivation to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 13:28), and our service for God is strengthened. Finally, remembering our Lord’s sacrifices on our behalf “proclaims the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Just as my wife was overcome with gratitude for her father’s sacrifice through his service in the military, as Christians, we must be grateful for and never forget the sacrificial love of our wonderful Savior!
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Joe Henderson, Brenda’s husband, is a retired international airline captain and now blogs in
“The Captain’s Corner” on a regular basis.
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