by Jeremy Paschall
Memory is a funny thing, isn’t it? It comes in every shape and size. Some people can remember things that happen decades ago but couldn’t tell you what they ate for breakfast. Others have something called a “photographic” memory. A lot of husbands are accused of having “selective” memory… But we won’t talk about that.
We normally think of a good memory as a positive characteristic in a person, but that is not necessarily true. It all depends on what that person is good at remembering. For example, if he is good at remembering his wife’s birthday, his wedding anniversary, and Valentine’s Day, his memory will serve his marriage well. But if, on the other hand, he is good at remembering the last time his wife ruined dinner, forgot to iron his favorite shirt, or hurt his feelings, he is in for a rocky marriage. The trick is this — we have to train our memories to remember the right things.
It is really no different when it comes to our “spiritual” memory. There are three important spiritual principles we need to always remember.
God’s vengeance
Jude reminded his audience of the wrath of God on those who don't fear and obey:
Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. (v. 5-7)
For those who refuse to heed His will, “It is a terrifying thing to fall in to the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
God’s grace
After the Lord saved the firstborn of Israel from the plague that killed the firstborn of Egypt, Moses told the Israelites, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place…” (Exodus 13:3). Moses told them to remember God’s blessing upon them.
Similarly, Paul told the Ephesians, “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ… but now in Christ Jesus you… have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (2:12-13). We too need to remember what great blessings we have in our Savior Jesus Christ.
Faithfulness
In view of God’s vengeance and His grace, our challenge is to “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7). We need to be motivated, by the fear of God’s wrath and the desire to obtain God’s mercy, to “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10) that we too might receive the crown of life.
Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity; but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)