Of all the gifts that mankind has been given, the gift of memory goes directly to the heart. With it we remember the love of a family member, the care of a friend and the happiness of shared experiences. Memory is a double-edged sword. On one side we see the past and consider its joys and fond moments, but the other side cuts with painful partings and wounds that never fully heal. Memory, it would seem, is a blessing and a curse.
We all have memories of our lives before Christ and if we're honest, some of those memories make it difficult for us to believe that God could truly love us unconditionally. God can forgive us of those sins, but look upon us with unconditional love and acceptance? Well, maybe on our good days.
Charles Wesley once penned the following words, "He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin, He sets the pris'ner free. His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me." (O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, hymn #147 in Sing to the Lord hymnal)
It's an amazing thing for me to consider the words, "He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin..." The pow'r of canceled sin can come from our memory and oh how Satan loves to throw our past "canceled" sins in our faces. But the good news today is that God breaks the pow'r of canceled sin! And how so?
In the truth of Hebrews 8:12, "...I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Our God not only forgives, but He forgets. I guess you could say that God is a forgetful God!
When it comes to memory...His is awful in regards to canceled sins. The Bible tells us that there is a sea of forgetfulness into which God deposits our sins and though I've no Scriptural basis for it, I believe that He posts a sign that says, "No fishing allowed."
Friends, we need to embrace the freedom that is our's in Christ. God not only forgives, but He forgets! Praise the Lord!
