a forgetful God

Among the many stand-out verses in Paul’s letter to the Philippian church is this one found in Chapter 3.

But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” (13, 14)

Memory is a funny thing. Almost randomly, it seems, the mind can recall events from years ago - even the meaningless and trivial - but have difficulty with remembering yesterday. Or an hour ago. Carol’s 95 year old grandpa could tell with brilliant clarity about a tragic flood that happened in 1912, but he couldn’t remember to turn off the oven.

Admittedly, there are some memories we’d like to keep forever. Sweet ones, warm ones. Memories that bring joy and peace.

Others... well, some of those we could do without. Events that caused us pain. Humiliation. Despair. These we’d just as soon never remember again... ever. The ones that gnaw at us. The ones that bubble to the surface at the mention of a word, a verse from a song, a smell, a place, blind siding us. The ones that speak into our ears: You’re nothing. You’re a fool. You’re incompetent, untalented, unacceptable. Small.

Memories, by definition, are what lie behind us. They “were”. They “happened”.

They are not “now” nor “will be”.

But often we are dominated by their presence and influence in our lives.

(Warning: A sports analogy from a non athlete!)

When the star player fumbles, strikes out, blows a lay up, or otherwise makes a miscue in a game, the automatic response from the coach and team is...

“Shake it off.”

You do not want that player haunted by the memory of an error and become defeated and ineffective. You need him to be in the game. You need him to pursue the goal of finishing with a win. You need him to forget it and keep going.

Paul had a lot that he needed to forget.

When you get a minute, read Acts 7:54 - 8:3. It’s the account of the stoning of Stephen and the introduction of a young man named (at that time) Saul, who agreed with his death. Thereafter, Saul began a personal campaign of house to house searches, dragging believers of Jesus off to jail. He “breathed threats and murder” (9:1). He expanded his searches to other cities, with approval from the Jewish council in Jerusalem.

He was very good at what he did. Dark things. Things that you remember long afterward.

Then he met Jesus And because of that, Paul was able to forget. Because God forgets.

Not like we do when we forget where we parked the car, or missed a birthday, or forgot to leave the trash on the curb. Not careless forgetfulness, like some doddering uncle who we all love, but realize “he’s not all there”.

God forgets because He loves us and chooses to forget. Our sins? Gone. As if they never existed. He does this for His sake: He is holy. He can’t look on unholiness. When we turn to Jesus for forgiveness, repent of our wrongdoing and rise to follow His leadership, God can receive us because our sin is forgotten.

Here’s what I mean.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Jeremiah 31:34 I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.

Ezekiel 18:20, 21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten....

God forgives. God forgets. Count on it: it’s erased.

And, like Paul, we are free to “forget what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead.”

So, the next time “what lies behind” wants to rear its ugly head to remind you of something dark, accusing you, dredging up old memories to take you out of the game, remember....

God forgives. God forgets.

R