Main Text: Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32
Intro: God said I don't want to be forgotten. I want to be remembered. It has always pleased the Lord for people to remember Him. Throughout the Bible God has reminded His people not to forget Him. In a hundred different ways the Bible says, “don't forget God”.
I. FIRST, DON'T FORGET GOD'S WORD
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Deuteronomy 4:9
Have your eyes seen the glory of God? Then don't forget what your eyes have seen.
Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:11-18.
This is the way it is for most people in America right now. Too often, when we are in need we remember God and He helped us. But now we have forgotten God. We find security in so many other things- Bank Balances, Careers, Education, Being successful. He's out of the picture. He's out of our plans.
But God hasn't forgotten us. He still knows us by name. He knows where you live, where you work, and how you feel. He has the very hairs on your numbered. God has always remembered His people. He will continue to remember His people.
The Psalmist said:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:2-5
Psalms 116:12
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
Psalms 97:12
Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. *
God remembers! He never forgets those who remember Him!
He remembered His people in the land of bondage and delivered them. As they were in route to the promise land they faced obstacles. But God gave them visible signs that He was right there with them. By a pillar of fire and cloud. He led them and reminded them.
Even with these visible reminders of God's presence they forgot Him .
Psalm 78
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
We don't have a pillar of fire or a cloud but we do have the nearness of His presence.
The people came to the Res Sea. God was right the cloud reminding them. But yet they murmured. Where is the God that led us here? That is where they were wrong.
Moses said nothing. He simply obeyed God by lifting up his rod above the water.
God is able. God remembers His people. He's not going to forget you and me.B
Don't forget God and don't forget His word.
David said:Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
You will recognize sin in it's true prospective. You don't have to have someone policing you all the time. You don't have to worry about peer pressure positive or negative. His word will keep you from sinning.
II. DON'T FORGET GOD'S WORSHIP
Do you love worshiping the Lord.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25
You don't have to be in a big crowd or have a VIP doing the preaching. The music doesn't have to have a tempo. You don't have to have a prays team that resembles a cheerleader at a ball game. And on the other hand you don't need it orderly and as cold as a mausoleum either.
The Bible says that where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I will be in the midst of them.
David said in Psalms 39:3
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned
Not only do I love corporate worship, but I love personal worship, as David obviously did.
You've heard about Jesus as a personal savior, haven't you? That is more than just a mere cliché. He loves you personally. He died for you personally. He forgives your sins personally. And you can love and worship Him personally.
III. DON'T FORGET HIS WARNINGS
Whether or not the world believes it or not, there is a heaven and a hell and a judgment. And one day we are going to stand before God. God has warned us in His word.
Romans 14:11-12
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
You will have to answer to God on your own.
Psalms 9:17 says
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Illustration: Robert E. Lee pleasure boat. Steamed out of Vicksburg. Hundreds of people were aboard. After midnight the boat caught fire. The captain discovered it and told his first mate to rush down through the saloon and down every corridor to wake everyone up. He didn't have time to make explanations.
Strangely some became angry at haven been awaken rudely. They thought it was a drunkard or a practical joker.
Some were amused. They laughed until you could here them screaming in terror as the flames overcame them.
Others heard the warning but just couldn't believe it and waited to here it again more clearly. But as the young man ran down the corridor his message was harder to hear. In another few minutes they were swept down into a frightful death.
But there were some who heard the warning and to believed it to be true. They awakened from their sleep and made their escape to safety.
This is exactly the way the world is treating the warnings of God. Some become angry with the straight gospel. Others are amused. They get entertained. Then there are those who hear the gospel and then they gradually cease to hear. Waiting for a convenient season to set things straight with God.
There are some though, who here God's warning and accept Jesus into their lives, putting on the garment of salvation and escaping a burning hell. And it is for their sakes that we must keep on proclaiming the gospel.
We must understand. THE BOAT IS ON FIRE. Time is running out.
Don't forget God. God wants to be remembered. Beginning right now.
