Remembrance Sunday is a time when we remember the sacrifices made during war. For many of us in England, war is just history to us. We may know that war still goes on around the world, but it does not touch our daily lives in the way that it did for our grandparents and great-grandparents. Nonetheless, Remembrance Sunday is the day that is set apart for us to remember those affected by war and to pray for peace.
Stephen preached from Revelation 22:1-5, reminding us that Scriptures teaches us to adopt a peaceful outlook. Jesus reminded us that ‘Blessed is the peacemaker’ (Matt 5:9) and urged us to ‘turn the other cheek’ (Matt 5:39). Wars arise, James reminds us, because of the sinfulness of the human heart (James 4:1-2). But a day is coming when there will be no more war, no more night, no more sickness, no more sorrow, a day when there will be ‘healing of the nations’ (Rev 22:3). When Christ comes, there will be perfect peace, for His hand is a healing hand and His kingdom will bring perfect peace.
Remembering is important, but as we look back and remember, we also look forward to the day of perfect peace which is surely coming.