04/26/2019
Does our memory dull to the wonders of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Do we find ourselves being drawn back into the world; not by decision, but because we have simply wandered there out of forgetfulness? It is natural for our memories to fade with time, so how do we keep Jesus in the forefront of our consciousness?
“and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."”
1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV
My father died several years ago and the pain at that moment was intense, but over the years it has faded, until now I can go weeks, and sometimes months without being painfully reminded that he is gone. This is our nature, a defense mechanism if you will, and we have a saying for this very real characteristic we bear; sometimes we say “Time heals all wounds”. Although that is not actually true, it at least takes the painful edge off of certain memories. So does this apply to the memory of Jesus Christ as well? The answer is yes unless we avoid becoming detached from Him by realizing that He is alive and active in our lives today. As believers we have an expression for the loss of faith too, we say “He/She is backsliding”, or is backslidden.
In communion Christ left us a powerful way to remember Him. If He said that we should do this to remember Him, then it must be possible to forget Him. In fact we see examples of forgetting God all through the Old Testament here is one from Isaiah...
“"I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?”
Isaiah 51:12-13 ESV
And again in the New Testament...
“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
2 Peter 1:13-15 ESV
So how do we keep our faith from being dulled by time and familiarity? Well, we already mentioned Communion, but we must take care not to make it a ritual, but actually a remembrance. When we do something over and over again it can inadvertently lose its importance to us, and become a mindless routine... Pastors, keep Communion fresh.
Then there is prayer... we don’t pray to the dead, or something that isn’t there, we pray to a living God, and we speak with a risen Christ, we ask them to intercede in a very real way in our lives. In this way we do not forget, because our faith is not in the past... it is right now, and active in our lives.
And although there are other ways to keep our minds active in our faith, one of the most certain is to study God’s Word, and listen as the Holy Spirit reveals its truths to you. Familiarity dulls our senses, and our memories, but the constant revelation of new truth, and the epiphanies we receive by reading the Word of God, keep our thoughts and memories fresh, because they are alive to us.
Finally, we should be physically active in our faith. We should do those things of action. Some of the most obvious are given to us in Matthew 25, and involve our doing things as acts of faith like feeding the hungry...
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'”
Matthew 25:35-36 ESV
we can do this as a simple act of caring, and any unbeliever can do so, but we as Christians are to do these acts of mercy in conformance with the second great commandment, and should constantly remind ourselves that this is our motive. Quote these scriptures to yourself as you go about these activities of mercy...
“And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
All of these things we do to keep our faith fresh, and in the forefront of our memories, are ways in which we remind ourselves that Jesus didn’t die, but is alive, and that God is with us spiritually and physically in everything we do. We might think that our life is long, and let time full us, but always remember that this life is short, and that we are looking from this narrow threshold, into the reality of an eternity with God.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Spirit that you sent as a teacher, and to bring to our remembrance all that Jesus said. I thank you Holy Father for your active role in my life each day that reminds me how incredible, real, and alive you are. I thank you for the memory you have given me, and I pray that I remember every good deed you have performed in my life, every rescue from disaster, every provision, and all of the acts of love; Father help me to keep these memories alive because they strengthen my faith in those times when your silence surrounds me. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who tempers my grief, and yet makes fresh my faith. Praised be your name Merciful Father for walking with me every day, and letting me feel your hand forever upon me. Your love is alive and your grace brings you glory... great are you my living God, and your Risen Son Jesus Christ!!
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?”
Psalms 77:11-13 ESV
Rich Forbes