“Thank God for Forgetfulness We have To Move On”

 

Jack And Ann Exum

Jack And Ann Exum

When I was a boy of twelve, I was saved. My Dad baptized me and I heard the congregation sing, “O Happy Day, which fixed my heart on thee my Savior and my God…” I knew nothing about what being a Christian was like. That was 69 years ago and I’m still learning.
When I was nineteen, I married my sweetheart Ann. I knew even less of what being a husband was like. Now sixty one years later, I am still learning. My precious Ann is in the nursing home and I still don’t understand or fully grasp the meaning of it all.
I was reading a book (502 pages) called “Dead Center,” and I ran across this saying, “Thank God for forgetfulness – we have to move on.” It was an unusual string of words and I made a note of them. I just thought they would make a good column. Hear what the apostle Paul says, “Once I was alive apart from the law, but then the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died… Did that which is good then become death to me? We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do, but what I hate I do… As it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me… I have a desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out (Romans 7).
Paul was holding the garments of those who stoned Stephen and later declared… Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man… but for that very reason I was shown mercy, that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (Acts 7.58; I Timothy 1.12-16).
“THANK GOD FOR FORGETFULNESS – WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.” So it is with you and me and most who will read this article. The black deeds, terrible acts, the knowingly ungrateful sins were recorded in my life as with many of yours. I had to learn love, patience and forgiveness. But what about all the baggage of sin in your past? Hear again the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3.12-14)(ESV).
If I could interview Paul, I would ask, “Do you remember the stoning of Stephen?” “No” He would reply. “I remember the name but not the circumstances.” “Tell us a bit about the days when you were persecuting those “believers of the Way.” “I can’t recall those days and events anymore. You see I believe we ought to shut the door on those things that are evil behind us, and press on to the prize of the high calling in Christ.”
“Were you not afraid when you were condemned to death by Nero in Rome?” “No, because while I was there I spent time in prayer, and singing, and sharing my faith in Jesus… and I also wrote a number of letters to Timothy and Titus encouraging and instructing them on carrying on. I also had Timothy bring some parchments and books which kept me busy reading. In fact I did say this to Timothy, “and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (I Timothy 6.5-8; II Timothy 4.6-8)(ESV).
Paul did not live to see the “Fall of the Roman Empire,” but he realized Jesus was in control. His life was one focused on what lay ahead, not on what lay in the past. Our lives cannot “move on” while spending untold hours, and energy on dwelling on the past. The Hebrew writer says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7.25).
Thank God for forgetfulness – We have to move on!”
Grow in grace!

 

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Rudy Snores!

RudyRudy is not my dog! He came “in the baggage” with my brother who recently (within the last 6 months) came to live with my wife and I (and our dogs and cat).
Now at first, Rudy stuck pretty close to Bob and sometimes still does, however, he has become quite adept at sleeping in our bedroom, and “yips” or barks to get into bed with us. When he does, he tries to dig in under the blankets to get warm. Sometimes he meets with opposition with Little Bit (our 20 pound weeny dog), who promptly lets him know “who’s boss!”
The problem is that Rudy snores! I don’t mean a little bit (no pun intended), he snores loud and continuously. Try sleeping with that in your ear! He gets restless about every five minutes for the first half hour, so he is continually moving about seeking a new spot or position. It usually takes me about five minutes to get the idea, HE HAS TO GO! So, off the bed he goes. Then he finds some pants or shirt or towel on the floor, and wallows out a sleeping place and goes to sleep. THE SNORING CONTINUES!
I have thought of getting a C-Pap for Rudy. I wonder if they make C-Paps for little dogs. Probably not. Trying to imagine getting a mask on the little snorer(?), and then try and get the right settings so “the poor wee dog” doesn’t “blow up” like a balloon. This is more than I can handle, so I am thinking of getting some ear plugs.
Now Rudy is in my office, on a special chair, with cushions, SNORING and he has precipitated this article.
An application:
Usually when we get married, we don’t see all the faults etc… “We’re in love!” Over time, the faults seem to get a bit annoying… “Honey, would you mind…”
Since marriage is a covenant, and you promise to God, and your spouse DIVORCE is not on the table. Then you have to work through the little and the big things. (Even snoring!)
Relationships bring many blessings, but they bring many challenges as well. Tolerating and learning to “love above the fault line,” is so important, in relation to church as well.
Jesus knew what it was like to “be stuck” with someone like I am “stuck” with Rudy. His disciples were not bargains for sure. He chose them, worked with them, taught them, corrected them, loved them… to the end (and beyond).
The best example was Jesus giving his life for them, but a good example is when he was eating the Passover with them just before His crucifixion, and since no one wanted to do the honors, He gets up from his place at the table, lays aside his garments, and girds himself with a towel, and gets a basin of water and begins washing their feet. We know the story well… but we don’t like the implications. John 13 records it all, as he goes from one pair of smelly feet to the next, and He even washed Judas’ feet! Hard to imagine, right? If it were me I would be tempted to break a toe or something… But he washed his feet just as gently and tenderly as he did the others.
Then he came to Peter’s feet.  Peter pulls back, and refuses. “No Lord, you’re not washing mine!” What’s the matter Peter… you got six toes on your foot? Are you too good to have your feet washed? Jesus tells Peter, this is an “either – or” situation… Either you allow me to wash your feet or else YOU HAVE NO PART IN ME. What does that mean? It must be pretty important, right?
Sometimes we are not very consistent. We insist on doing or not doing because, “that’s what it says!” We want to be exactly correct on “what is” and “what is not commanded,” because we want to be saved, thinking “perfect performance means we’re heaven bound.” Wrong! Heaven is a grace thing.. not a perfect performance thing. When we come to things like washing feet… we say, “Oops, this is figurative.” “This is cultural” “Jesus didn’t literally mean “wash feet.” Well what did He mean? Was it their culture? Yes. Why did they do this? They wore sandals, and walked dusty roads.  Yet he says “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). If we lived in a culture where this was done, we would do it… but not to be saved. The question then is, why is this so vital that He said what He said to Peter? My opinion is that He is addressing the underlying problem of Peter (and many of us today)… PRIDE! This is something so vital both to family, and church, that He says “”If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” If we were in a culture similar to that of Jesus time, and foot washing was the norm of hospitality, What would you think about someone who would say, “You ain’t washing my feet!” Got a problem right? In the family, and in church, we got a problem when PRIDE rears its head.
How do you love someone (or something) like Rudy? Learn the lesson of HUMILITY! Learn to SERVE! Get self out of the way, and GROW in this not so easy attitude or mind set. Yet Jesus learned… Jesus let go of… He was willing to “take on” and even to wash feet, because he loved.
Getting a basin of “God’s grace,” and washing the dirtiest feet, is not a matter of bragging, but just learning to love someone (or something) “anyway.”

 

Grow in grace brethren…
Rudy

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