In Remembrance

It’s often said that to err is human. I think also, to forget is human.

As humans, we are prone to forget – and I’m not particularly dealing with forgetfulness from the standpoint of physiologic memory because, to an extent, this is normal; we simply can’t hope to remember everything we read, see or hear.

The forgetfulness I’m concerned with is that which has a close semblance to not taking cognizance of something. When something or someone loses the significance it ought to have. So, in fact, it’s not strictly that we don’t remember, but rather that our minds simply do not reckon with the knowledge or respond appropriately to it.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJV)

The idea of the word ‘Remember’ here suggests “to mark for recognition”. This was the admonition of the Preacher to young people.

Why?

Well, because the Preacher wasn’t worried about their knowledge of God, but he was rather concerned about the weight and the impact of that knowledge in their lives. He was concerned that once their youthfulness, energy and zeal got into top gear, the weight of God in their lives would start to dwindle. That they would start to forget.

This is a risk that the believer runs; he can forget.

We live in an ungodly world with anti-christ systems. It’s a world that puts pressure on our ability to live God-recognizing and God- honoring lives.

When we are not faced with this corrupt system, we are confronted by sheer busyness of life. We begin to slack in our fervor and passion for God and His glory. We begin to skip our points of fellowship, both personal and corporate. We start to become inconsistent in our obedience. Before long, we start to forget.

This is a serious and present peril. It was also a concern that the Apostle Peter had when he wrote to the believers.

[14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

[15] Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

[16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2 Peter 1:14-16 (KJV)

The Apostle Peter had spent considerable time, preaching and teaching them the gospel. He had spent time discipling them in person and encouraging them in his letters.

Yet, he recognized that as great as all he has done was, he couldn’t afford to stop. They needed to be reminded about these things as often as possible, otherwise the force and weight of it all would be lost on them.

So, the Apostle is made a commitment and put in place measures to ensure that, even after his death, they were still engaged with the very things he spent a considerable amount of time instructing them in.

How do put ourselves in remembrance?

First; It’s start with believing. We must believe the things that make for our Joy and progress of faith.

Second; We must live in partnership and submission to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, for He is saddled (amongst many other things) with the responsibility of putting us in remembrance.

Third; We must make a personal commitment to availing ourselves to the place of consistent personal devotion, to the Scriptures, to prayer and to every other means of grace.

Fourth; We must not neglect the fellowship of the saints and the ministry of the body.

Fifth; In the words of JC Ryle, we must resolve never to forget the eye of God.

Let’s keep these things before us and not trivialize the danger that we face.

“Remember, now, thy Creator.”