MEMORIES!  

Recently I have been looking through a whole heap of photographs that have been taken over the many years of our life and ministry. (It is quite amazing how many one can acquire over time.) As I worked my way through them, so many memories ~ good and bad ~ came flooding back to me. Photographs hold so many memories! It makes one realize just how many people come into, and out of, one’s life over time ~ some for just a short time; others for quite a long time; and yet others who remain friends to this day. The good memories are that you are reminded of those who have moved on from the time of the photo being taken into better and greater things in God today. From small and often difficult beginnings they have risen to conquer life’s obstacles and are impacting numbers of lives in their field of service. The bad memories are of those who were “running well” at the time the photo was taken, but today they are not running at all. Some are even in a far worse state than they were back there. Then there are those you thought were genuine friends, and who, in fact, proved to be otherwise. I never realized just how much old photographs can affect you emotionally. They all carry a story!

Memories! The Bible often is charging us to “call to remembrance.” One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to“teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I (Jesus) said to you” (John 14:26). The ministry of angels is also to cause us to “Remember how He (Jesus) spoke to you . . .” As a result of that“they remembered His words” (Luke 24:1-12). One of the purposes of Christians partaking of the Holy Communion is so we will keep fresh the memory of what our Salvation cost Jesus Christ: everything! ~ “this do in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-34). Jesus exhorted His disciples to “Remember the word that I said to you” (John 15:20) and “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them” (John 16:4). The Apostle Peter was strong in his writings about the need of reminding us of things of the Lord: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble . . . For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent (“body”), to stir you up by reminding you . . . Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease” (2 Peter 1:10-15). Again he writes: “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 3:1-2).

It becomes very obvious from the many Scriptures that use this word, that we human beings are very prone to forgetfulness! It is so easy to forget our roots, where we have come from. Likewise, many have forgotten the fundamentals of the Christian faith and what Jesus taught us. If we are not reminded of these things, then we easily develop other belief systems that take us away from the truth of Christ, and we finish up in a worse state than when we began our Christian walk. We must be continually reminded of the truth ~ it is there for us in the Word of God; but we have to “dig” it out by our continually giving ourselves to it. Like photographs, God’s Word keeps reminding us of what life is all about. If you want to stir up some memories of people who have passed through your life, then take some time to look at your old photographs again ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:   Psalm 103; Luke 22:14-20; 2 Peter 1; Jude.

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