|
|
The Problem of Forgetting
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:14–16
In 1985, a gifted English musician and conductor named Clive Wearing suffered a severe viral infection that attacked his brain. Though Wearing survived, he was left with a profound case of anterograde amnesia, which meant he could no longer form new memories. Each time he saw his wife, he thought they had been separated for a lengthy period of time. He kept a journal of his experiences each day, but often found that he could not believe what he himself had written about the previous day. Wearing was, however, able to remember the music he had learned before his illness and continued to play the piano in public and conduct choral concerts.
Wearing’s wife, Deborah, conducted a campaign to provide better treatment for people suffering from amnesia, and wrote a book called Forever Today. In it she detailed the devastating impact of her husband’s memory loss on both of them and the way that eventually their relationship became stronger than ever. Though no one has control over the loss of memory due to disease or injury, we are to exercise our spiritual memory. This is true both of remembering what God has done for us, and of remembering what He has commanded us to do for Him.
Over and over in Scripture, we see God’s people forgetting what He told them and the tragic consequences that followed. We must heed the warning to remember God no matter what happens. “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12).
Hebrews 13:14–16
In 1985, a gifted English musician and conductor named Clive Wearing suffered a severe viral infection that attacked his brain. Though Wearing survived, he was left with a profound case of anterograde amnesia, which meant he could no longer form new memories. Each time he saw his wife, he thought they had been separated for a lengthy period of time. He kept a journal of his experiences each day, but often found that he could not believe what he himself had written about the previous day. Wearing was, however, able to remember the music he had learned before his illness and continued to play the piano in public and conduct choral concerts.
Wearing’s wife, Deborah, conducted a campaign to provide better treatment for people suffering from amnesia, and wrote a book called Forever Today. In it she detailed the devastating impact of her husband’s memory loss on both of them and the way that eventually their relationship became stronger than ever. Though no one has control over the loss of memory due to disease or injury, we are to exercise our spiritual memory. This is true both of remembering what God has done for us, and of remembering what He has commanded us to do for Him.
Over and over in Scripture, we see God’s people forgetting what He told them and the tragic consequences that followed. We must heed the warning to remember God no matter what happens. “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Do not lose sight of all the wonderful things God has done in your life and what He commands you to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment