JUST FORGET IT

God has built into man’s personality the ability to recall, to bring forth instantly and clearly past events of bygone days.  It is, however, quite unfortunate that some of us do well at forgetting what we should remember and remembering what we should forget.  The Apostle Paul speaks of forgetting past times. 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing, I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. —Phil. 3:13 

     Learn to expunge from your memory past failures, discouragements, misunderstandings, squandered opportunities, and shattered dreams.

     Conversely, reach forth in renewed determination to engage those things which lie ahead—glorious opportunities to serve the Lord with purpose and power, to win triumphs in trials, to sprinkle sunshine along the pathway of our pilgrim journey; encouraging others to be and do their best for the Lord.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me....and...But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". — Phil. 4:13, 19 

    Memory allows us to relive those happy times of yesteryear.  Sometimes, though, the ability to forget is a blessing in disguise.  Forget that blunder or failure or bad experience that comes back to haunt, disturb, and discourage us, causing sleepless nights and restless days. Forget those unkind words spoken to us in a fit of anger. 

      In the school of learning and achievement the science of memory is mnemonics (the art of improving the working efficiency of the mind).  The adjectival word, mnemonic, refers to that which assists the memory in the power of recall.  A mnemonic device might be an object or symbol that aids memory. 

    Experts in mnemonics tell us that one’s memory improves as one uses it.  A dull memory is much like a rusty, squeaky hinge on a door. Frequent use will act like a lubricant, eliminating rust and silencing squeaks.  

      The verifiable record of history has some amazing feats of memory. Christmas Evans, the great Welsh Revivalist, whose godly influence has long emblazoned the pages of church history, was granted permission to attend the church and hear his mentor preach.  Evans didn’t leave the service once it began.  He sat almost motionless with his hands folded. 

      The minister learned that Evans was so enthralled that he had memorized the entire service, including hymns, prayers, and the sermon.  In the afternoon of the Lord’s Day, Evans repeated the entire service from memory.  What a contrast to our time when the average churchgoer, can hardly remember the pastor’s sermon or text from one service to the next. 

     Because of Evans’ extraordinary feat of memory, the Lord; the Lord in His providence, led a senior farm hand, a Mr. Davis, to announce that Christmas Evans was called of God to the ministry of the Word. This encouragement spurred Evans on to accomplish great things for God.

      Sir Walter Scott, of English fame, a believer and man of great learning and books, heard an eighty-eight-stanza poem just one time and three years later was able to repeat it. 

      The annals of history record that Cyrus, King of Persia, designated every soldier in his army by name, though there were many thousands.  Another astounding feat of memory centers around Themistocles, a Greek, who, with almost magical recall, is said to have quoted unaided the names of twenty thousand citizens of Athens. 

       Surely, we are all somewhat flabbergasted at such remarkable and extraordinary feats of memory; but still greater and more wonderful is the ability of God to forget our sins and iniquities.  

       While the rich man in Hell was troubled with a gnawing memory of wasted opportunities to be saved while on Earth, the believer can rejoice in full measure for time and eternity that God has put away his sins, forever to remember them no more.  “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed you” (Isa. 44:22).  

          The Lord in His ineffable grace, limitless love, and matchless mercy; has put our sins away as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12). God has buried our sins in the sea of vanished memory. 

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more — Heb. 10:17