Only a few months ago, almost two year old Thomas could be distracted from something simply by moving on to something else. As his vocabulary grows, his memory expands to include what you said he could do that you hoped he’d forget. We can go outside after we finish breakfast is quite literal for him. The fact that everyone needs to get dressed first does not decrease his frustration in waiting. His daddy taught him to hold your horses a few months ago. He stands with his little hands folded as if holding the reins of a horse for several seconds before once again loudly taking up his case. I may truly forget what I’d promised only moments before but he does not.
My memory is really not the problem most days. I’m merely distracted. I can walk from one part of my house to another for a very specific reason and forget on the way what I’ve come to do. Eventually I remember, usually in the middle of the night or when I’m driving down the road and I’m unable to do anything about it. My own forgetfulness either frustrates me or makes me laugh out loud, but it’s rarely anything of consequence. On the other hand, there are things I will never forget no matter how long I live.
“Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!”
Isaiah 49:14-15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.49.14-15.NLT
God is not forgetful and He never becomes drowsy or sleeps. (Psalm 121:4) He is never unaware for He sees all. (Psalm 139:7, 12) Even deeds done in secret come to light eventually. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.
Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.13.NLT
“But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed!
Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.
They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods; they provoked his fury with detestable deeds.
But Israel is a senseless nation; the people are foolish, without understanding.
Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!
Oh, that they might know their fate!
But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize.
The Lord says, ‘Am I not storing up these things, sealing them away in my treasury?
I will take revenge; I will pay them back.
In due time their feet will slip.
Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’
Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?
Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings?
Let those gods arise and help you!
Let them provide you with shelter!
Look now; I myself am he!
There is no other god but me!
I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!”
Deuteronomy 32:15-16, 28-29, 31, 34-35, 37-39 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.32.35.NLT
“The things my people do are as depraved as what they did in Gibeah long ago.
God will not forget.
He will surely punish them for their sins.”
Hosea 9:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.9.9.NLT
“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Numbers 23:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/num.23.19.NLT
God’s holiness means that He must judge sin. God’s omniscience means that He sets aside what He knows to be true about me. My sins were judged at the cross and by of the blood of Jesus, I am forgiven and whole. I am clothed in His righteousness. It is not my own. Omnipotent God empowers me with the mind of Christ, the fruit of His Spirit, everything I need for a life of godliness.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.
These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.3-4.NLT
“The Lord (our Lord) is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!”
Psalms 103:8-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.103.8-18.NLT
Praise God, He chooses to forget my sin, removing it an infinite distance from me, but that does not mean that He is forgetful. A promised day of judgement is coming and those who trust in Him are instructed to welcome it and ask God to speed its coming.
“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.
We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.10.NLT
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think.
No, he is being patient for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.
Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along.
On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.”
2 Peter 3:9-15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.9-15.NLT
Oh, that we would be wise and understand this!
Oh, that all might know their fate and call on the name of the Lord before it is too late!
A Fitting Reply 