Henry had a horrible memory and so did his wife, Matilda. They chided one another for their forgetfulness, neither owning up to their own lack of recall. The wife said, “Henry, will you fix me an ice cream Sundae? And don’t forget the cherry on top!” Henry, irritated, said, “I won’t forget; my memory is as sharp as a tack.” He went into the kitchen and in a few minutes he brought Matilda a plate of eggs and toast. She said, “I knew it! You can’t remember anything! I told you not to forget to put jelly on the toast!”
Memory. Mine isn’t what it used to be – my excuses are that “I have too much to think about and too little to think with!” My granddaughter used to say, “I have a good remembury.” And she still does. My memory is at its worst when I meet someone and almost immediately forget the name. Embarrassing to say the least.
We all forget things from time to time but there are some things we ought to always keep fresh and in mind. In our Christian lives we need to keep fresh in our memory several important truths. Peter talks about these in his first letter – 1 Peter 1:13-21.
There are some areas of life where we often need some reminders. “Remind me, Oh Lord!”
Remind me of the things which are temporary.
Peter alluded to the temporary and perishable condition of this world when he said, “Live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed--not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, Christ.”
A few people are granted a long life of 80, 90, or 100 years. But, we must remember that the longest life we may live here in the flesh is still but a temporary one. Here today, gone tomorrow. We are given but a brief time of journeying here on this earth in these temporary bodies.
Silver and gold are considered precious metals. But, even the finest of these are also perishable. They, too, can meet with destruction and lose their value. They are temporary. None of the silver or gold we may possess will enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
The song, Remind Me, Dear Lord says this:
“The things that I love and hold dear to my heart
Are just borrowed, they’re not mine at all
Jesus only let my use them to brighten up my life
So remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”
Things are temporary. Oh, we may enjoy them for a while, but to hold on so tightly is futile.
The Apostle John urges not to hold on to those things which can bind us to earthly living rather than heavenward living. Hear him when he says: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB).
Martin Luther once said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
Marjorie Holmes wrote this prayer, “Lord, cool these fires of wanting. Help me to realize how futile is this passion for possessions; let me learn something when I lose something I hold dear; that possessions are meant to enhance life, not to become the main focus of living. Help me remember that we come into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. Don’t let me put too much stock in mere possessions.”
Remind me where you brought me from.
“Roll back the curtain of memory now and then; Show me where you’ve brought me from; And where I could have been.
Peter said, “do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, because I am holy.’ .... You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed.”
“Remember I’m human and humans forget. So remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”
Think about what used to be and from where He brought you and press on to more lofty purposes. It is a good thing for us to remember from where He brought us. He brought us from the pit in which we were mired. He brought us from the bondage of desires that ruled and ruined us. He brought us from the power of sin which had separated us from Him. He brought us from the domination and deception of this world and Satan which led to foolish living. He brought us from hate and anger and malice.
Even when we put all the sin out of our lives and remember where we came from, we are not perfect in this life. But we can be like the old fellow who testified, “I ain’t what I oughta be; and I ain’t what I’m gonna be; but Praise the Lord, I ain’t what I usta be, neither!”
------- Gary K. Fair 18 August 2020