I’m generally not very forgetful.  This last week or so has done much to skew that curve.  Drives me crazy.  I absolutely can’t stand it when there is something that I can’t remember!  The worst are the things that you put somewhere “safe” where you know that you will remember them only to find that it is the one place you’d never think to look for them later.  Foolish.

Neville Longbottom received the coolest gift from his grandmother.  Yes, I am referring to the much debated “children’s” series, Harry Potter.  For those of you who have grievances with the books, I can only encourage you to read them for yourself and do so with a mind toward Kingdom truths.  Now, back to Neville.  He has a tendency to lose things and has been given a Remembrall, a small glass ball that turns red in his hand whenever he has forgotten something.  It doesn’t tell him what he’s forgotten, simply that he’s forgotten it.

So, we have a forgetful writer and an imaginary boy and his proverbial string-around-the-finger trick ball, where might this be headed.

I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.                                                          2 Peter 1:15

I forgot where I had hidden an early-purchased Christmas gift.  I forget where my headband might have last been lain.  I forget these temporal things.  A remembrall might be nice for those, but what about the truly important things?

So much in society has it’s roots in reality.  Here’s a bit of truth from Harry’s world.  Remembrall’s exist.  They are readily available, but they aren’t glass balls and they don’t limit themselves to lost shoes or forgotten homework.  That which truly needs to be remembered is, in itself, a tool for remembering it.  Little chicken and the egg isn’t it.

God’s Word both implores us to remember and is that which we are called to remember.  Peter says that it is worth some serious work to make sure that people remember the stories, the truths, the facts and their implications of what God’s Word says.  He’s willing to “make every effort” in order to make sure people remember. Remember what?  Remember what is true, what really happened, what was said, what has been done, what was recorded and prophesied.  And why is it so important that we remember these things?

Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.                                  2 Peter 1:21

It’s because men didn’t write them.  They aren’t “cleverly invented stories.”  They are the Words of the God of all Creation and He has had men write them down so that you could have them today.

I have been given the very Words of the God of the Universe spoken for my benefit, for my growth, for my encouragement, for my guidance, to MY heart and My life.  If I only manage to remember one thing today, I would desire that it be the thing that is of greatest value.  If I’m going to misplace two things, my prized and priceless family heirloom or the piece of toast I fixed for breakfast, I’m clearly going to hold on to the one of more value, right?

Then why is it that we will spend 20 minutes searching for the “toast” today and not even 2 remembering that which God orchestrated all of history in order for me to have at my disposal?

As we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are unseen.  For the things that seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.                                                                                                                2 Corinthians 4:18

We will easily forget that which we do not make it a point to remember.

Be reminded of the Gospel.  Refresh your knowledge of the Prophets.  Reminisce on the Exodus.  Be mindful of what all the Holy Spirit took upon Himself to do in order for so much knowledge to be made known to us.  Isn’t it astounding that I am allowed to be so intimately informed about the character of the Great and Unfathomable, Awesome and Eternal God of Heaven and Earth?  Isn’t it amazing! The most powerful Man you know invites you daily to peek into His mind and His life and His character and His history.  Talk about something of value worth keeping your eye on.

Leave the tennis shoes hiding under the sofa.  Let the toast gather dust on top of the fridge.  Find what’s worth looking for.