The Once and Future King
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place – unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 NASB
Remember – Do you remember those days, the days when you first experienced the joy of fellowship with Him, the days when that burden you carried was lifted away, the days when you knew His presence as clearly as you knew your own being?
The man in the rowboat remembers God’s markers in his past because his course is true. He looks back to see that he has not drifted away, he has not changed direction. That is the purpose of remembering – to stay aligned with God’s handiwork in your life. But sometimes when we remember, we see something else. We see the shame of a life busy with everything except the true course God intended. Sometimes when we remember we see a time that is no longer part of our present reality, a time that we long to recapture but seems always out of reach. Sometimes when we remember, we are humiliated by our neglect of devotion and obedience. We used to have passion for the Master. Now we struggle to pray. We used to rush to His Word. Now we can’t find the time. We know His calling but we knew His love.
The Greek word here is mnemomeue. You will notice its similarity to the English word “mnemonic” (an aid to memory). The Greek term reminds us that “remember” is a deliberate action of bringing something to mind. Perhaps that’s why Abraham Heschel said, “To believe is to remember.” Perhaps we need to remember that today. The exercise of faith has no past tense. Today is the day of our deliverance. The reason that we are to remember is to exercise the capacity to see what God has done in order to be aligned with what God is doing. The value of God’s past acts is found only in the transformation of His present servants. Ours is not a faith in historical ancestors. It is a faith in the living God, the One Who meets us today as we trod the road of restoration.
If you and I have lost that infatuating first love, there is a solution. Repentance. It’s a simple solution. It doesn’t require penance, therapy, theology or more charity. It asks only for turning around – now! Would you be surprised to know that Hebrew has no special word for repentance? Repentance is woven into the fabric of the entire religious practice of the Jews. It shows up in fasting, liturgies, festival days, rituals and days of penitence. It is simply part of everyday living. The Hebrew word shuv means both “turning back” and “turning from.” So Hebrew repentance is not simply a return to the former course. It is also turning away from any course deviation. Repentance is all about direction. It’s not only where you’ve been; it’s where you’re going. But this much is clear. It’s not about standing still.
When you remember, does it hurt?
Topical Index: remember, mnemomeue, shuv, Revelation 2:5, repentance
~ When you remember, does it hurt? ~
No! My brothers.. When I remember- I rejoice! For I (too) have a history with God. Abraham had a history with God. David had a history with God. Moses had a history with God and now “I” have a history with Him as well.
Is this “bravado” or boasting? No, not at all. This is rejoicing on my part. ~ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ~ (1 Thessalonians 2.19)
Here’s the deal on “repentance.” What (he inquired) is the consequence – the outcome- the results of repentance? Friends, -if we only knew! And Yes, our repentance is not only a moment in time, (for salvation) but also “moment by moment” repentance for our sanctification (the process of holiness).
Have we forgotten this? Alethia Adam! Remember!
~ So he returned home to his Father. And while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him ~
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this son of Mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began ~ (from Luke chapter 15)
How to Make Heaven Happy: “repent.” (think different!)
What was the “original sin” of our (non-so-great) grandfather Adam? He was derelict in his duty in two ways.
1.) For whatever reason, he failed to “remember..” Was he distracted by the fruit? IDK.. But had he remembered the clear, concise and very concrete instructions of his Maker and Creator, – “don’t eat the fruit,” he could have answered the Tempter in the affirmative, with a “Yes, God did say that!”- and thank you for reminding me!” But, he failed to remember.
2.) And he failed to speak. In Hebrew, “dabar” – “to speak.” All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do (or to say) nothing. This was Adam’s response.. Again, was he distracted by the “shine” of the serpent, or the false and empty promise (you shall be as gods)? – or was it the entrapping and entangling enticement of the forbidden fruit? IDK.. but should he have to said to the serpent on that fatal day so long ago .. “Yes, God did say that!”- And what would have been the consequences of his obedience to YHWH? And what are the consequences of our obedience to YHWH today? May we learn by observing the life of the most obedient Man ever to have lived? We could even look at the long, long list of those who did not “shema” (listen and obey) the scriptures (the Word of God) and view the trail of tears throughout many lives and many years.
~ And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” ~ ( Luke 22.19)
“in remembrance” (anamnésis) Amnesia, – Have we forgotten something? Or worse yet, have we forgotten Someone?
Excellent study, Skip!
The human propensity to forget is very great in most of us! I once heard a preacher say that God gave us this inclincation to forget so we would be able to forget the awful personal tragedies of life and continue on. But then that leaves us vulnerable to forgetting the invisible God and our obligations to Him. Hence, we find Him reminding us to remember several places in His Word.
If you have not done so already, I would love you to sometime do a word study on the Hebrew “zakar” Strong’s #2142 as in “Remember the Sabbath day” (Exodus20:8) Ancient Israel forgot about Shabbat and it cost them dearly.
I wish our church building project had begun with this message. I looked at our church’s mission to ‘bring everyone into a growing relationship with god’, and I wondered what a biblically based model of that would look like (modeling isn’t too Greek, is it?).
Of course, we started with a renovation/expansion of our church facilities. Next we are implementing seeker friendly services, and organizing small groups to foster community and spiritual growth. Anyways, it’s all left me wondering, “If we are supposed to introduce people to Jesus, how can we tangibly do that?”. Is the the right path? Wasn’t John the Baptist’s job to make the paths straight? What was HIS message? Wasn’t repentance a prominent theme?
Barnhouse said that the only message for the pagan is REPENT. All the rest is distraction. Perhaps the seeker-friendly church today is really a distraction from the true message. And in my opinion, the only real evangelism is the evangelism of radically changed lives. Words don’t matter much when there is no obedience.
“Words don’t matter much when there is no obedience.”
I’ve seen this recently in my own ‘evangelism’. A friend of mine is going through some bad things, and seems to be looking for an alternative to the way he’s been living – but my life does not draw a clear enough contrast… yet.
Yes it hurts.
When I see it on His face. Then I am painfully aware of His vulnerability to the weakness in my soul. I know I have not loved as He loves not even close. I have to love Him with His own Love, the lamp of love, the oil of love burning for Him, come let us buy without silver or gold, the precious things He desires. Remember the angel, I mean a man, that measured it’s depth with the reed? the currency of heaven is a sacred thing I think His heart.