Let us not forget that we forget far too easily!
Take for example, one of the pastors during a pastor’s conference, who was looking everywhere for his glasses.
“Where are they?” He wondered out loud.
His colleagues were laughing like crazy, some even falling on the floor, holding their tummies. (What a bunch! And these were his colleagues!) Finally one of them, out of compassion, told him where they were. He had been wearing them on the top of his head all that time!
My wife, too, specializes in leaving her glasses lying around. I enjoy bringing them to her, whenever they cross my path. Good thing that she has two pairs!
All of us have experienced similar adventures with keys and wallets, to the point that you have to wonder if these things actually have legs!
On my trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary in New Zealand, I left my printed itinerary at home. I had a backup on my portable key, but it got corrupted when someone attempted to open it. Good thing Gmail keeps all emails online!
We have to admit it, we are all forgetful. Funny thing is, we usually remember the silliest things, down to their tiniest detail, but the important things like wallets, passports, itineraries and glasses are out of our grasp!
The same is true with what God (our focus in life!) has done for us! We pray for something specific in the morning, and at night, when we go to bed, we don’t even realize that God has granted our request!
Old Testament stories confirm that this is not a new phenomenon. In fact, the entire Old Testament can be summarized as follows: God shows up, He performs amazing things for His Children, they rejoice, and then, eventually, usually sooner rather than later, they forget and start running after idols. Calamity strikes and they cry out for deliverance, God shows up, He performs amazing things, there is great rejoicing, and then the people forget and history continues to repeat itself.
No wonder they are reminded constantly: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deut 4:9 NIV)
It was no better in New Testament times, however the stakes became higher. God showed up in person and paid the ultimate price for our salvation. He knows of our human tendency to forget, so the evening before His arrest, He established communion with these words “Do this to remember me.” (See Luke 22:19)
Did they even remember? “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all.” (Gal 1:6-7 NIV)
Do we remember even now?
Too often we let the evil one steal our story through discouragement, lies and addictions, or even worse, we lose the story ourselves, distracted by the truly unimportant things that we label as “urgent”.
I really believe that Blaise Pascal, the famous French mathematician and physicist, was aware of our tendency as well. On November 23, 1654, the night of his conversion to Christianity on, he wrote the following words on a piece of paper:
“This day of Grace 1654; From about half past ten at night, to about half after midnight, Fire. Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, Not of the philosophers and the wise. Security, security. Feeling, joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ Thy God shall be my God. Forgetfulness of the world and of all save God. He can be found only in the ways taught in the Gospel. Greatness of the human soul. Greatness of the human soul. O righteous Father the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy. I have separated myself from Him. My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?… That I be not separated from Thee eternally. This is life eternal: That they might know Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou hast sent, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ. I have separated myself from Him; I have fled, renounced, crucified Him. May I never be separated from Him. May I never be separated from Him He maintains Himself in me only in the way taught in the Gospel. Renunciation total and sweet.”
When he passed away, a piece of paper was found sewn inside his shirt, right over his heart. It was the very piece of paper he had written that night of his conversion. He never ever wanted to forget what our amazing God meant to Him.
What will we do in order to not forget our true desire, because forgetting we will and this may cause great headaches and defeats in our life!
Some do journaling. I enjoy writing inspirational stories. Whatever you do in order to not forget, make sure you come back to it over and over and pray for our loving Heavenly Father to help us remember. Only then can we truly rejoice in the victory bestowed on us by Jesus Himself.
“God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.” (1 Cor 1:9 The Message)
Rob Chaffart
(To access the entire “Fearless Victory!” devotional series, please click here.)