"What’s Past Is Prologue” and the JNEM (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial)

A few weeks ago, I was in St. Louis for a meeting. While there I was able to visit the Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Scripture seemed to jump out of the experience. Here is what struck me:

Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch was selected and built because it symbolizes the future. What is being said is that the spirit of looking forward, moving forward and embrace the future is part of the American heart because of our historical experience. It is our culture and we celebrate it today. The future, as represented by the arch is quite impressive. It takes on many colors and hues as the day progresses. As a stainless steel structure, it is huge and impressive. It was also quite a accomplishment to build.

The other part of the memorial, the “Museum of Westward Expansion” documents a pivotal moment in our history. It is a moment that seems to best define, if not give us a forward looking vision. It is a quintessential value.

The Louisiana Purchase was completed by President Jefferson in 1803. With the Corps of Discovery, it was time to assess the territory to determine what it held and the peoples who occupied it.

To summarize what them museum contained: The Corps of Discovery encountered Grizzly Bears, Native American tribes with whom they traded and gave peace medals, and several corps members kept journals.

What came after the expedition of Lewis and Clark was a never ending movement of people into that vast area. It continues today. It is a “movement” taken by people in an act of their faith with respect to their future. In is almost Biblical. Let me digress. If Christians consider scripture, we too have a calling to step forward, do the right things out of faith to embrace a future which God promises to bless.

A people embracing a future promised by God is also Biblical. Moses led the Nation of Israel out of bondage to a land promised by God. He told them to assess the land and its people. It was already theirs. The 12 tribes would occupy it and live on it. God promised He would be with them. After they crossed the Jordon He told them to pile up 12 stones as a reminder of what He had done for them as they too embraced the future. This is point: Because of what God had done for them, everyone would know of His power. The future, if we choose it, is ours by faith.

William Shakespeare said, “What’s past is prologue. What is to come is ours.”

Lewis Mumford had a little different twist on the thought and wrote, “If we do not take the time to review the past we shall not have sufficient insight to understand the present or command the future: for the past never leaves us and the future is already here.”

To summarize: “Know your past, who you are and where you are going.”

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 32.48 – God said to Moses, look at the land I’m about to give to you (it was promised).
Numbers 13.2 – Explore the land I am giving you (assess and divide it among the 12 tribes).
Numbers 13.18-20 – Find out what kind of people, land and fruit are in the land.
Numbers 14.7 – Excellent land.
Joshua 1.2-3 – Cross the river into the land I have given you (vision).
Joshua 1.5 – I will be with you.
Joshua 1.7 – Be determined, confident and obey my law.
Joshua 3.7 – Realize I am with you.
Joshua 4.2-4 – The arch symbolizes the future much like the pile of stones on the banks of the Jordon.
Joshua 4.6-7 – A reminder of what happened
Joshua 4.23 – Because of this everyone will know of God’s power (so big only God could do it).
Hebrews 11.2 and 12.1-2 – Faithful living has God’s approval in the past and in the future.