1. Memory Challenges
The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether anything was troubling him. "Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient. "You see, I seem to be getting forgetful.
I'm never sure I can remember where I put the car, or whether I answered a letter, or where I'm going, or what it is I'm going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your help. What can I do?"
The doctor mused for a moment, and then answered in his kindest tone, "Pay me in advance."
And how is your memory? Do you forget things? Things to do? Or maybe you went to a room in your house to get something and then when you got there, you couldn't remember what you were going to get. It is called the "Great Hereafter" -- what am I here after?
And what about people? How embarrassing it is when you run into someone you haven't seen in ages and you know their face, but you can't think of their name. WHAT DO YOU DO?
2. Memory is important in the Bible
* Remembering is the process of recalling the past, especially the presence and activity of God in the history of his people. The process of remembering is not limited to cognitive recall.
* Remembering implies acting in accordance to what is remembered. Remembering God's work in the past can lead to praise and rejoicing, and to hope for the future.
* God himself remembers.
o His Covenants -- He remembers his covenant forever (Psalm 105.8)
o His Promises
3. Memory Devices in Scripture:
a. Mezuzah
b. Fringes
c. Tefillin
d. Rainbow
e. Passover Meal
f. Lord's Supper
4. 2 Timothy 2.8-10 -- Three Assertions:
I. Remember God's Son
A. Remember Who He Is
1. "Good"
2. Judas -- "Rabbi"
3. Thomas -- My Lord and my God
B. Remember What He Has Done --
Scars, Remembering
John Gordon was a respected general for the South in the Civil War. After the war, he was running for the United States Senate, but a man, who had served under him in the war, angry over some political incident, was determined to see him defeated. Everyone knew this man would fight Gordon's bid to become a senator.
During the convention, he angrily stamped down the aisle with his anti-Gordon vote in hand. As he saw Gordon sitting on the platform, he noticed how his once handsome face was disfigured with the scars of battle -- marks of his willingness to suffer and bleed for a cause he believed in.
The old soldier was stricken with remorse. Overcome with emotion, he exclaimed, "It's no use; I can't do it. Here's my vote for John Gordon." Then, turning to the general, he said, "Forgive me, General. I had forgotten the scars."
What a difference it makes in our lives when we remember the scars! With so many things to distract us, we don't often take time each day to reflect on what Jesus went through on the cross for us. But, when we are tempted to stray, it is a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice that has the power to draw us back to him.
"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
1. Mighty Acts -- 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Matthew 16.9-10
2. DBR Luke 22.17-20
3. Given our only Hope -- One hope of calling
II. Remember God's Word
A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Gluten-somebody-or-other had printed it. "You don't mean Gutenberg?" gasped the collector. "Yes, that was it!"
"I can't believe it! You've thrown away one of the first books ever printed. A copy recently sold at auction for half a million dollars!"
"Oh, I don't think this book would have been worth anything close to that much," replied the man. "It was scribbled all over in the margins by some guy named Martin Luther."
The Bible is valuable but not because it's an old book or because Gutenberg printed it at one time or because Martin Luther may have scribbled his name in it. THE BIBLE IS VALUABLE BECAUSE IT IS THE LIVING, ETERNAL WORD OF GOD! And no other book can be compared to it.
A. We Remember with the Aid of the HS -- John 14.26
1. Instruction -- Romans 15.4
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
2. Instructions of a loving Father (Torah)
3. Descriptions (from Psalm 119)
a. The Sin Cure --119.11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
b. A Delight -- 119.16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
c. A Sweetness -- 119.103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
d. A Lamp to Guide -- 119.105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
B. God's Word Brings Good News --
1. Gracious Actions of God in Jesus -- Romans 1.16-17
2. The Bible is His Story -- all the way through
3. Brought by Beautiful Feet -- Romans 10.15 cf. Isaiah 52.7
C. God's Good News Implies Potential Bad News --
1. "Immanuel" --
2. Cannot forget God's Wrath -- 2 Peter 3.1-10
III. Remember God's People
A. Everyone is in Need -- Romans 3.23; 6.23
A few years ago, a young & successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only 2 months old.
He was watching carefully for kids darting out from between parked cars & slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed that spot, no child darted out, but a brick flew out & - WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny side door.
SCREECH!!! He slammed on his brakes & his gears ground into reverse, tires spinning the Jaguar back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.
Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid & pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted, "Who are you? And what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, & the brick you threw is going to cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do! I threw the brick because no one would stop." Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.
"It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb & fell out of his wheelchair & I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy pled, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt & he's too heavy for me.'
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair & took out his handkerchief & wiped the scrapes & cuts, checking to see that everything else was okay. He then walked with them to make sure that the younger brother was able to get them back home all right.
It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long & slow walk. Josh never did fix that side door. He kept the dent to remind himself not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention again.
B. Everyone is Important to God -- 1 Corinthians 9.22-23
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
C. Everyone is So Important that God Waits on Judgment -- 2Peter 3.9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1. Remember:
* God's Son
* God's Word
* God's People
2. Remember to Act
Memorial Day started near the end of the Civil War. And within a few years the practice of placing flowers on military graves had spread throughout both the north & south & was being called by almost everyone, "Decoration Day."
Then, after WW1 it became a national holiday dedicated to remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy.
And it is also a day upon which we remember our loved ones who have gone on before.
For most Americans it is a day off from work, nothing sacred any longer.
In Israel, on their memorial day, the country stops and remembers. Sirens go off and EVERYONE stops -- even in cars on busy highways. People get out of their cars and stand in honor of the Israeli soldiers who have given their lives for their country.
3. As Important as it is to remember and honor those of the past we remember and serve those of the present -- Matthew 25 -- to the least of these, not:
* I was hungry, and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.
* I was imprisoned, and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
* I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
* I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health.
* I was homeless, and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
* I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me.
* You seem so holy, so close to God but I am still very hungry - and lonely - and cold.
