“Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:8-9).
Back when I was still living in Louisville, one of my best friends would have a singing and Bible study for young people once a month at his family’s house. I would always get there early to help out. One time in particular, I got there and I was told that we needed ice. Well, I didn’t need to be asked. So, my friend and I got in my car and drove to the store to get some ice. Half an hour later, we returned with chips and 2-liters; we forgot the ice. So, we set out again to obtain the one thing we needed. Before we left, the last thing my friend’s mom said to us was simply: “Don’t forget the ice.” It is sad but true that, as we were pulling up my friend’s driveway, we realized that we had forgotten to get the ice again. We had gotten ice cream instead and totally forgot about the ice. So, we stuck it in reverse, went back to the store, and finally got the ice.
I tell this story every now and then to illustrate a point that we all know quite well: people are (even sometimes absurdly) forgetful. I mean, how many of us go into another room and immediately forget why we went in there?!
Thankfully, the Lord, our Creator, is aware of how forgetful we can be. And, this is why He has written down for us in the Bible a number of things He wants us to never forget.
The most important of these things is this: He wants us to never forget Him. In Deuteronomy 8:11, we read, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today.” God does not want us to forget Him. And, how could we?! I mean, He is GOD! He is the Creator of everything! Wherever we look, we see His handiwork (Psalm 19:1) and His invisible attributes (Romans 1:20)! How could we forget the One who loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to die on the Cross to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:8-10), to be the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9), so that we could be His children (1 John 3:1) and heirs of all of the riches of Heaven (Galatians 3:26-4:7; Ephesians 2:4-7)?! How could we forget HIM?! Sadly, too many people DO forget Him by not obeying Him. Friends, do not forget Him. Don’t not forget His statutes (Psalm 119:83), His Law (Psalm 119:109), His precepts (Psalm 119:141), or His commandments (Psalm 119:176). Read your Bible and study it every day to know what the Lord requires of you today (Ephesians 5:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:13; Acts 17:11). Come to everyone of our Bible classes and worship assemblies as we “continue in the Apostles’ doctrine” and “make known the manifold wisdom of God” to learn and understand even more (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:10-11). And, do not ever forget to do His complete will, out of your love for Him, and unto His glory (James 1:25).
Friends, don’t forget the Lord. He will never forget you!
–Curtis Carwile