Back to the Future
Written by Brandon Doran
"Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us)."
- Isaiah 7:14 (ESV Footnote Added)
One of my favorite movies growing up was Back to the Future, in which the main character goes back in time to the 1950s. There’s something about remembering the nostalgia of the past, whether a classic car, an old song on the radio, or your favorite hairstyle (sigh longingly).
It’s no wonder, then, that the word "remember" appears some 200 times throughout Scripture. Throughout the Old Testament, God frequently calls His people to remember. He calls to mind their wanderings, failures, and inability to save themselves, of which there are still countless instances for each of us. More importantly, however, He calls His people to remember His faithfulness, His promise to be with them, and His promise to save them.
During the Christmas season, I also really enjoy the hymn "O Come, O Come Immanuel." While I recognize its composition came centuries after the birth of Christ, there’s something about it that reminds me of a song the nation of Israel would have sung in their homes at feasts or times of remembrance as they looked forward to His prophesied arrival as Immanuel. This Christmas season, may we take our unique opportunity to stand with the saints of old and look back at the work God has already done in Christ and look to the future in hope, expectation, & wonder at the work God will do.
PRAYER: Father, as we remember Your faithfulness in the manger this Christmas season, help us look forward in hope to Your eventual return and restoration of all things.
