BOOK SUMMARY: REDEEMING MEMORY - CHAPTER 9 - MAN'S CORRUPTION OF FUTURE REMEMBRANCE

Future remembrance refers to how a person is remembered after death.  Just as fallen memory distorts a person's thinking and bends toward self and away from God, so too, our memories work in a way in which it desires to selfishly work in a way that others will remember us long after we are gone.  In other words, we can try to sinfully achieve immorality through the memories of others. 

EVIDENCE OF DISTORTED FUTURE REMEMBRANCE IN CULTURE

Who's Who books demonstrate the world's obsession with future remembrance. The interest in the book is not to read them but to be included in them. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is another example of the human desire to be memorialized.  

EVIDENCE OF DISTORTED FUTURE REMEMBRANCE IN SELF

We may not be in a "hall of fame" or in a Who's Who book, but there are other ways in which we can become an idol unto ourselves in trying to make sure we "live on" in the minds of others.

(1).    Photography - Studies show that media diminishes the precision of memory by distracting you from the details of the sounds and sights.  Ironically, in trying to preserve the moment with media, memory for the moment declines. Photos have their place in rekindling joyous moments, but they ought not to be elevated to a place where they are idols.

(2).    Childbearing - In obedience to the command to be fruitful and multiply for God's glory, we can be consumed with perpetuating the family name. It's our glory we are consumed with. Absalom had no son to preserve his name so he set up a pillar after his own name (2 Samuel 18:18).  He feared he'd be forgotten.  He was so sinful that when he died he was not buried at his monument but was cast into a pit in a forest where a heap of stones were hurled upon him.  His name was remembered, but in disgrace.

(3).    Honor - If we are honored after our death, it should be for God's glory, not our own. 

DEATH AND DISTORTED FUTURE REMEMBRANCE

Future remembrance relies on faulty memories of others. 

(1).    Death Is Unmistakable - Everyone knows death.  

(2).    Death Is Universal - Unless Christ comes again first, we shall all die physically.

(3).    Death Is Irreversible - Medicine gives the illusion that all is well, but we all still die. 

(4).    Death Is Uncontrollable - Even those who eat healthy and exercise die. We do choose our day of death (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

(5).    Death Is Unexpected - Each day could be our last (Psalm 90:10).

(6).    Death Is Unsettling - Death leaves us longing for more time with the other person. 

UNDERLYING FEARS OF DISTORTED FUTURE REMEMBRANCE

(1).    Fear of Fiction - Our imperfect memories are susceptible to fiction and forgetting the ones who have died.  We can be selective in what we remember for better or worse. We may defame others after they are dead and they cannot defend themselves. 

(2).    Fear of Dishonor - What if others accurately remember the sinful things I really did do?  Judas is an example. 

(3).    Fear of Futility - What if others forget the godly things I did?  See Ecclesiastes 2:14-15.  

(4).    Fear of Insignificance - What if others forget ME? 

EFFECTS OF DISTORTED FUTURE REMEMBRANCE

The fear of being forgotten might manifest itself in acts hyperactive acts of heroism, hedonism or hoarding. Or it could manifest itself in inactivity like anxiety or apathy.

(1).    Hyperactive Effects Of Distorted Future Remembrance 

(a).    Heroism - We may try to do great things so that we have a biography written about us or to earn the praise of men.  This is trying to bring glory to self and not God.

(b).    Hedonism -   If we fear not being remembered in the future we may resort to trying to gain as much pleasure as possible.  This is futile according to Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:1). 

(c).    Hoarding - If riches are not lost in life, then they are lost in death.  Vain riches may quickly vanish even through spending, bad investing or stealing (Ecclesiastes 5:14). 

(2).    Inactive Effects Of Distorted Future Remembrance 

(a).    Anxiety - The mind loves to dwell on "what ifs".  The fear of being forgotten/insignificance leads to anxiety. The mind, heart and lungs race while the rest of the body is motionless. 

(b).    Apathy -  We are sometimes anxious about small things but apathetic towards big things (death).  We may think that death is for others, but not for me.  We assume if we do not think of death then death will not think of us.  Today's funerals have been replaced with "celebrations of life" but contemplating death is a good thing for we shall all face God.