Bad Memory is Godliness
October 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgression for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins,” Isaiah 43:25.
There are two things in the passage that strike me. We are made in the image of God, Who says, “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake.” When those to whom you minister, those who minister to you, those you minister with, and those to whom you will never minister do something to hurt you, the thought of the transgression can haunt you for years. It only takes a name being brought up, an event of the past, or a painful experience to renew the transgression. If the hurtful person completely disappears from the scene, never to be heard of again, he can still take up residency in your head and heart. As I often note, the purpose of forgiveness in the Bible is restoration. However, there are those who do not want restoration; hence, they would see no need for forgiveness. There are relationships I have tried to restore in the past by asking for forgiveness, only to be told of more offenses and to stay away. For my own good, I need to forget. Oh, to able to forget, to wipe out a transgression, to remember the sins no longer, just for our own sakes. When I got married, Betty quickly realized what was ahead of her, for each day I would ask, “Have you seen my keys? Have you seen my wallet?” Everything would shut down while we looked. Then a few years ago I got glasses, and we have added them to the list of things that are lost daily, along with a cell phone and the key to the mailbox. You get the picture. “Betty, have you seen my keys, wallet, glasses, phone, and key to the mailbox?” One day, justifiably, she said, “Can’t you remember anything?” I jokingly said, “Forgetfulness is a sign of godliness. Only God could wipe out transgressions and remember no more, and we are in His image. I am glad that in His image, I can forget. I just do not want to remember everything from my past, and if not being able to remember where my keys are is part of not remembering, then it is a fair tradeoff.” You can see why I can be difficult to live with! However, to forget is a great blessing. Research (if it can ever be trusted) says that the average person only loses about 10% of the ability to remember. The difference is that past age 60 it takes more physical effort to correct the forgetfulness. In the younger years, we forgot the mail and thought nothing of running back to get it. In the older years the extra effort is a frustration. My grandfather used to complain about his memory loss, and I would remind him that I had worked with him most of my life and never remembered his having a razor-sharp memory, only now it was annoying him. Start this day knowing that the Lord wipes out your transgressions for His own good. He does not want to think about your failures all day long, so why should you? Second, He does not remember your sin; it is the enemy coming from your past. Guilt is the undertaker’s best friend.
Freedom From Religion Is Freedom From Man
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, My son, your sins are forgiven. But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk’?” Mark 2:5-9
Men are kingdom builders. Kingdoms need subjects. We are raised to be subjects. It is said, “You don’t have to respect the President but you must respect the office of the President.” Translated, “whatever you do, you are not to come out from under our kingdom! What would a kingdom be without subjects?” Kingdom builders must offer you something. If they can’t, the subject might go elsewhere. Now, kingdom builders never give you anything of substance. All things of substance are horded for themselves. They give something with the appearance of substance to keep you a subject. Religion is a kingdom. Those in charge must keep you in subjection. Out of necessity they must give you something, something you can’t get elsewhere. But, remember, it will just be the appearance you are getting something; you never really get anything but more bondage.
Every man, everywhere, knows they have sinned and fallen short. Within is a deep fear of the consequences. The Scribes and Pharisees were offering forgiveness, restoration, and freedom. The catch was that you had to jump through all their hoops. No matter how many you jumped through, they were always able to produce one more. The vast majority of people, wanting what was promised, continued to be in subjection. The kingdom went on.
Then, came Jesus and in one little sentence He destroyed it all. He brought “whosoever will” out from subjection. The sentence: “My son, your sins are forgiven!” He didn’t say “will be”, or “keep trying”, or “check with me next week”, “complete your memory work”, or “have a little more prayer time.” No, “Your sins are forgiven!” No more hoops, no more bondage, and no more need for the kingdom of man! No more religion! Religion destroyed it’s foundation. You are in bondage to no religion. Jesus has forgiven you! He has given what others promised in exchange for your devotion and servitude. You are free! You belong to no kingdom but His.
