Today’s Challenges: ‘I forgot’ won’t work with Him

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Have you ever noticed how easy it is to forget things? If not then you are a special person. I don’t believe the problem of forgetting is necessarily related to age, I believe it can happen to any of us.

We forget an assignment we had at school, we forget an appointment, and we forget to return a library book. The pharmacy may call and ask if we still want that prescription, or maybe it’s time to change the oil in the car. There are so many things to remember aren’t there?

Today our lives are so busy; there are so many places to go, so much to do, so much to remember. I was thinking about it and realized that I have about a dozen passwords I have to remember, with four new ones at work. This week I had trouble one day remembering which password to use with a particular account. Not because I’m older, but because I am so busy and have so much to remember… right? Actually, I don’t forget them; they just get buried amongst all the other things that clutter up my mind. I know they are there, but have to dig through all of the other stuff to find them, and then I remember!

Let me remind you of one think you cannot afford to forget no matter what. It is the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for you and me. And yet, we sometimes forget don’t we? We not only forget the sacrifice Christ made (we loose it somewhere in the jumble of our mind), but we often forget that our response to that sacrifice demands a life of giving and of service.

You may face a problem that is not unique to your church family. You have a lot of people who attend regularly, but you have a difficult time finding a few who are willing to step up and serve as teachers for the young souls (or older) in your midst. You have programs and plans that require someone to step up and volunteer to help, but often no one does. And honestly, I don’t believe when we stand before God in Judgment saying, “I forgot,” will carry much weight. So, what happened that caused you to forget that God requires something of us.

There is an interesting passage that applies here, written to the church which met at Sardis. Notice what God says: “Here are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God. He has the seven stars in his hand. He says, ‘I know what you are doing. People think you are alive, (living as a Christian should), but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what is left, (of your lives, or it will die. You have not done all that my God wants you to do. “So remember what you have been taught and have heard. Obey it. Turn away from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief. You won’t know when I will come to you.” (Revelation 3:1-3, Russ Revised Verson)

As I said, I don’t think the excuse of “I forgot” will carry much weight with God. Perhaps it’s time for a decision on your part to remember what you have been taught and heard and obey it.

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By Russ Lawson

Russ Lawson is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with his column Today’s Challenges. He is semi-retired and an elder at the Mid-County Church of Christ. He can be reached at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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