IAN PAISLEY: Getting older, but still remembering
IT never ceases to make me smile at how many people expect me to have forgotten all sorts of things – forgotten their face, forgotten their name, forgotten how our paths crossed.
Of course there are things we all forget on a daily basis – in my case it is where I left my mobile phone and my keys! And, there are things we forget about the past too.
But when a person reaches 80 there is not some fairy with ‘forget dust’ that comes along and douses our entire memory to make us foggy!
Remembering is good exercise for the brain. It is good exercise for our faith too.
Remembering that we are not forgotten is one of the most uplifting and strengthening activities we can engage in regarding God.
The Son of the King has not forgotten us!
Our names are written on the palm of His hand.
He remembers we are made in His image.
He remembers His Son’s sacrifice for our sins and He remembers His promise that He will return to this earth!
He will not forget that.
One of the most beautiful illustrations of being remembered occurred at Calvary.
A dying man beside the dying Christ asks of Him this favour – to be remembered.
That in itself was an acknowledgement he understood that after death this Christ-man would indeed live!
In so doing Christ would conquer death and this man who was right beside Him facing death too, desired His favour.
Not only did he request His favour, he called Him Lord.
He had faith in Christ as being the person He said He was.
This was great faith indeed to be exercised on Christ at such a time as this, when He was under the greatest reproach and ignominy; while He was insulted and derided by all sorts of people; when He was forsaken by His own apostles, and was suffering a shameful punishment that would lead to His death.
The dying thief turned to Christ and made his request: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”
The response from Christ was, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
He would indeed be remembered.
Remembering is something we constantly do.
It leads to war and it leads to peace.
It ensures we arrive where we intend to go.
It enables meaningful communication.
It safeguards society.
When God commanded us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day”, He did so to ensure we appreciated the link between rest and labour, work and worship.
When we read the story of Lot and Abraham the words, “remember Lot’s wife”, inspire not to crave our destructive past but to strive toward a better future.
In Ecclesiastes, youth are inspired to remember their Creator in order to ensure a content and happy life.
Remembering is good for our health.
Even an old boy like me hasn’t forgotten that!
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Topperharvey
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 12:17 AMPraise the Lord!
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