Forget About It!

Most people don’t like to forget.

I had a great idea last week, but I forgot it before I could write it down. Does that ever happen to you? It’s frustrating, to say the least.

Then, in the Sunday paper, I read an article about forgetfulness. It said forgetting is a normal part of aging. For everyone. And that’s supposed to make us all feel better.

I feel better already, don’t you? Wait. What was I supposed to feel better about? I forgot.

For a number of years I’ve used a Palm PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to help me remember events, birthdays and information. It was a great help until its hard drive crashed before Christmas. So it can’t remember either. Bummer.

Now I walk around wondering if I’m forgetting to do something important. I don’t like to forget what I’m supposed to remember!

So it struck me when I learned of someone who forgets things on purpose.

Now hold on just a minute! Why would anyone do that?

Well he didn’t actually say he forgets things on purpose. He said he remembers them no more. So it’s kind of like forgetting on purpose--but not exactly. Let me explain.

There are some things we hope people will forget. Like our failures. Or “great” ideas that flopped big time. Or times we let our family down—especially those.

Have you noticed how people remember our failures more than our successes? We know we failed. But some people have to remind us about it. They must think they’re doing us a favor. Some even seem to enjoy it.

So it’s a surprise to learn that God is the exception. He forgives and forgets. Really.

When a person comes to Jesus Christ and trusts in him as their Lord and Savior, the Bible says God forgives all their sin. All the failures. All the things they wished they’d never done.

Now being forgiven is an unusual experience for us humans. Usually people want revenge. So we’re not sure about this forgiveness deal. God knows that so he keeps it simple.

The Bible says God separates us from our sin, “as far as the East is from the West.” It says he has thrown our sins “into the depths of the ocean.” We start to get the idea. He’s not planning to bring it up again and rub our noses in it.

But the best part is when he says, “I will never again remember their sins.” That’s even better than forgetting. How? Forgetting is passive. It’s something that happens and we didn’t plan on it. We intend to remember but forgot instead.

However, to “never again remember” is active. It’s like God is saying, “I know about your failure but I don’t plan to think about it again. I will not remember it. I will not remind you of it. Ever.” Now that’s amazing. God is the only one who does that.

How can he do it? He can do it because the Bible says Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin in full.

God doesn’t want you to feel dirty, grovel or be ashamed any longer. There’s no need. Once he forgives you, you’re clean. He gives you a fresh start.

Only it’s not automatic. God did his part by sending his Son, Jesus, to take the rap, the punishment for our sins on the cross. All he asks us to do is believe. To trust him. He will forgive and forget. And once God forgives you, you’re at peace with him.

Your sins? “Forget about it!” Now go make things right with others you’ve hurt.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Cold War

For two weeks I’ve been battling a rather nasty virus.

It began with a burning feeling in my chest. Then it tried to steal my voice.

My response was to declare all out war. I drank plenty of fluids, took the best cold medicine I could find and got plenty of sleep. But when the medicine wore off, I woke up coughing. The cold had won. I knew I was in for the long haul.

All my life I’ve been fighting another nasty condition called sin. Once I realized I had the condition, my response was similar to my battle with the cold: I tried to fight it. And the outcome was the same as with the cold. Sin won and I lost.

Now hold it right there for just a minute. What’s the big deal with sin? Isn’t that just a hang-up for religious people?

Most honest people recognize a dark side to their personality. Sometimes alcohol lets the beast out. Other times it rears its ugly head on its own. Most of the time we try to hide it and pretend its not there. But those we’ve hurt and those to whom we’re close know the real truth.

To deny our evil self is as foolish as spitting into the wind.

I fought it as long as I could. But as a child I discovered that, try as I might, I couldn’t be good all the time. I wanted to obey my parents and knew I should. But that knowledge had no power to help me overcome my rebel’s heart.

Not only did I disappoint my parents, I disappointed myself because I wanted to do right.

Why is it when we hear “Don’t” something inside of us says, “Do it!”?

This “dark side” to humanity is cross-cultural and affects both men and women. To discover the source of this “criminal” behavior governments have spent great amounts of time and money. But the only definitive answer is found in the pages of the Bible.

In Genesis Adam’s disobedient choice inflicts sin and its consequences on the human race. In Exodus God reveals a Law to show us our shortcomings and our need for mercy. Then in the New Testament God holds a mirror up to our soul to show us we “all have sinned.”

Most religions recognize the reality of sin. When I was in Japan I visited several famous religious shrines. At one the faithful believed that smoke from a fire would cleanse their sin. At another, the faithful washed their faces and hands and then rinsed their mouths with water to wash away sin. They hoped these rituals would cleanse them. At least temporarily.

But there is only one permanent remedy for sin that can remove its penalty and its grip on the human heart. Jesus Christ said that he could forgive sin. And it’s not just for Christians.

Jesus’ disciple Peter made it clear that God’s intention is for all people to receive forgiveness through Christ. He said, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

Salvation from sin doesn’t belong to one ethnic group or a particular religion. The God who made the heavens and the earth offers it to people of every nation, language and tribe.

For almost 2,000 years people worldwide have discovered the truth in Peter’s message. They’ve been set free from all kinds of addictions and destructive behaviors. The reason is that the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is more than just words. It is more than just a fact to believed. It is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

The Gospel has worked for millions of others. It changed my life. It will work for you.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!