Angelica Kajiwara

When we readily fill our hearts and minds with constant and never-ending information and mindless distractions, forgetfulness comes easily amidst the torrent of meaningless noise. And when one person stores hundreds of thousands of once precious multimedia memories in their pocket, the false sense of remembrance leaves a void that can only be filled by divine-focused thoughts of holy remembering overflowing our souls with God and his plan. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us to silence the distractions so we can start living a life that matters and to make an intentional choice to anchor our lives and our remembrance on God first.

Human forgetfulness did not evolve with the birth of technology. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after,” and “there is no enduring remembrance.” Simply put, humans forget. Many would rather have one million faceless followers watch five seconds of their curated lives than be forever moored in the eternal vault of the God of the Universe. The reminder to “Remember also your Creator” calls us to a relationship with God and anchors our identity in him.

And when an admittedly diverting cat video becomes the animated conversation topic around the dinner table, the one we know “by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no one remembered that poor man” becomes even easier to forget. We must make an intentional and habitual choice to focus on remembrance of what matters for eternity.

And still, the weight of remembrance grows heavier when faced with mortality. When a person faces the truth found in death, choosing to live wisely overlays their life. Life “under the sun” will not last forever, and when we “remember that the days of darkness will be many,” it should not inspire fear, but gratitude for the gift of life freely given, filled with joy and purpose, because we know “it is all vanity.”

The pointed reminder to “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” calls the TikTok generation to fix their eyes and thoughts on the One who made us and eternally loves us. He was, is, and always will be the only influencer worth remembering. The call to the young emphasizes the gift found in educating and turning remembrance into a habit when the trials of adult life render innocent remembering so difficult.

The remembrance of Ecclesiastes bears witness to soul-changing remembering, the kind that echoes in our hearts and minds while we live fleeting but precious lives left in God-filled legacy to “those who come after.” The timeless wisdom in the Preacher’s words provides a map for how followers of Jesus Christ can think differently and remember for eternity differently. The sacred echo of holy remembrance flows through generations of those who daily choose to fix their eyes on the Author of Memory, the Author of History. We remember because remembrance matters for eternity.

Bibliography

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.