Forgiving and Forgetting
When we forget, it is an indication of weakness, but when God forgets, it is a sign of power. Men have to use all sorts of devices to help them remember. Notebooks, daily reminders, records, all are a necessary part of our equipment. Without them our minds would not hold the things which we must remember.
God is not like man. His knowledge is perfect and not for a moment does he forget the tiniest detail of His vast creation. His Word gives us beautiful teachings about His love and His creation, for He does not only remember the laws of the universe or the provision for His creatures, but in an even deeper way He remembers those who are His children. The great cry of love found in Isaiah 49:15 belongs primarily to the Jews. God has promised not to forget them, for they are His chosen people, graven upon the palms of His hands, His forever by covenant relationship. But the verse belongs to us too, for we are His because we have been bought with the blood of Christ. We can take this reassuring message to our hearts, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." There is our confidence. God remembers us with infinite love.
But just as truly, God has the power to forget. We cannot forget at will; that which has been marked upon our minds with the indelible pencil of circumstance cannot be erased merely because we wish it to be erased. But God can forget. He says, speaking of those who have come to the Lord for forgiveness of sins, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." In heaven, the only reminder of our sins will be the scars in the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We cannot praise God enough for His infinite goodness to us, but we can bring joy to Him by trusting Him completely. We can also ask Him to teach us how to forgive and forget, in obedience to His Word.
Imagine my amazement and horror when I heard of the following incident.
An elderly woman, Mrs. X, had a daughter, Miss X, whose close friend was Miss Y. The latter two were mature Christian women. It seems that many years ago, perhaps fifteen or twenty, Miss Y made an indiscreet statement about Mrs. X in a letter to Miss X. The letter was read by the mother, who from that time on never permitted Miss Y to come into her home. The home was also the home of Miss X, who provided the major support for it but who, out of deference to the mother, respected her wish. The two Christian friends, therefore, always met outside of the home.
I spoke to Mrs. X, pointing out the necessity of Christian forgiveness, and suggested that she show real Christian spirit and invite Miss Y to her home for dinner. I repeat that I was horrified when I heard the reply, "Oh, I have forgiven her but she can stay in her own place."
Our Lord said, "When ye pray, say. . . we also forgive every one that is indebted to us" (Luke 11:2-4). Forgiving without forgetting is like a vulture feeding on a dead carcass, until even the breath of prayer smells of the putrid thing.
The Lord said, "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:15). This does not mean that sin will remain in the account of that believer, but it does mean that the terrible sin of unforgiveness is a blight upon our Christian life that can rob us of the joy of the Lord. It can block the free flow of communion with our Lord and can embitter all of the relationships of life.
You will find that a double blessing of God comes to you when you ask that He bless those who have truly offended you. Never forget that "the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).
1. How does the understanding of creatureliness help one understand things like, memory limitations?
2. Why is it good that humanity was created with limitations?
3. How are we then suppose to learn to forgive others like Christ?
