Remember

In his final epistle, written as he was nearing the end of his life, the apostle Peter said, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Pet. 1:12-13).

Reminders are good things. The older I get, the more I appreciate them. Like so many others, my memory is not what it used to be so it is good to be reminded of doctors’ appointments, anniversaries, and birthdays, etc…Often it is good for us to be reminded of some basic things in relation to our spiritual life. These things are very fundamental. All who are Christians know them. Yet, it is good to be reminded of them from time to time so that we might always remember them.

The apostle John wrote, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:1-2).

It is good for Christians to remember at all times that they are children of God. Christianity is not something that is donned on Sundays or when around other Christians. It is who we are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our conduct should reflect that fact. In (John 8:44), Jesus told the Jews of His day that they were children of the devil because it was his will they desired to do. Conversely, if we are going to be children of God, we must desire to do His will in our lives. It is something we need to remember.

Sometimes, even though we might have the best of intentions, we get caught up in the ideas of the world around us and worldly things seem important to us. We give priority to our education, our job, our possessions, etc., instead of remembering what life is really about. No better statement of the purpose of life can be found than that which Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Let us never lose sight of the purpose of our existence. Let us not be distracted by the world and its enticements. Let us be firmly resolved to remember that “our all” is to live lives that honor and glorify our God.

Eric