CAPA Corner: What It Means to Truly Remember

         The church that I pastor (Grace Presbyterian Church) just celebrated its 90th anniversary.  We praise the Lord for His wonderful goodness and faithfulness to us through the years!  As I prepared for the anniversary I reflected on what it means to truly remember.  The Bible teaches us that to remember is much more than just bringing something to mind.  Truly remembering, in the Bible, also includes taking the appropriate action required by whatever it is that has come to mind.  Christians are called to the appropriate (or righteous) action because that is what God Himself does.  Thoughts don’t just come to God’s mind; He also acts, rightly, on every thought!
    For example, when Israel was in slavery in Egypt, they groaned and cried out to God for many years.  Did God hear them?  Of course He heard them.  In Exodus 2:24, after years of crying out by the Israelites to God, we read, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”  It’s not that God didn’t hear His people’s cries before; no; it wasn’t time for God to act prior to Exodus 2:24.  But then, at that time, it was time for God to act, and He remembered– He was ready to act!  God was truly remembering with all that “remembering” encompasses!
    Over and over again in the Bible, Christians are called to remember who God is and what He has done.  Why?  Not just to bring God to mind, but to respond, in loving obedience to what God has called His people to do – whatever He has commanded in His Word.  About two weeks ago Christians remembered Easter.  Why?  To just bring it to mind?  No; Christians remembered Easter for what God accomplished in His Son – in Jesus’ sinless life offered on the cross as the necessary substitutionary sacrifice to pay the penalty for God’s people’s sins, and then His glorious resurrection on Easter!  Because of what Jesus accomplished on Easter, He now offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all, who by God’s grace, trust and follow Him.  Christians remember Easter because God’s Son changed them on Easter.  They are now forgiven in Jesus Christ.  Christians now live out of love and gratitude to God for all that He has done on their behalf.  That is truly remembering Easter.  Christians are called to remember Easter every day!
    Yes; Christians truly remember what Jesus accomplished on Easter by truly living differently than we did before we received Jesus Christ.  Christians truly remember Easter as they lovingly obey God, worship and serve God, and love their neighbor as themselves.  That is what it truly means for Christians to remember Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!  I pray that that is you, too!
Don Hulsey,
Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church (9526 Joor Road)