Dottie Rambo was one of my favorite songwriters. And she wrote so many songs that just speak to the heart of believers. I was just thinking about one that has always meant much to me. It is titled “Remind Me, Dear Lord.” The chorus of that song says, “Roll back the curtain of memory now and then; Show me where you brought me from and where I could have been. Remember I’m human, and humans forget; So, remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”
Memories Can Be Treasures
One of the saddest things affecting families today is dementia. It is a thief! It robs the individual of memories that have been a part of life for decades. But it also robs the family of the one affected because they cannot reminisce with the loved one about the joyful events of the past.
When I conduct funerals of believers, I always speak to the loved ones left behind about those treasured memories. A widow left behind faces each tomorrow, realizing that this side of Heaven, she will never laugh with her husband or take leisurely strolls together. The young grandchildren who may not have had the opportunity to spend much time with their deceased grandparent should be told about the memorable times they shared with those who have been promoted to Heaven.
Those memories shared can become treasures that are more precious than gold and silver. They are rich with joy and excitement from days gone by. I urge families today to share with their children some of those wonderful times, so that they, too, can treasure them after their loved one has been promoted to Heaven.
Memories Can Promote Gratitude
All believers should, from time to time, ask the Lord to remind them of what He has done for them in salvation. I was only eight years old when I placed my trust in Christ as my Savior. I had not committed great sins, but still I was a sinner. In my 60 years of ministry, I have been privileged to hear the testimonies of people who experience tremendous change in their lives due to being forgiven of their sins.
A verse of Dottie Rambo’s song says, “Nothing good have I done to deserve God’s own Son; I’m not worthy of the scars in His hands. Yet He chose the road to Calvary to die in my stead; Why He loved me, I can’t understand.” Once we are reminded of where we were before salvation, it should prompt us to be grateful for our salvation. We should rejoice because Christ brought about change — everlasting change — in our lives.
The apostle Paul used his testimony to inform others that Christ made a change in him, and He could do the same for them. He described it in this manner: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Cor. 5:17 NIV1984). When we are reminded of how the Lord has changed us, we realize where He has brought us from and where we could still be were it not for His great sacrifice and His tremendous act of forgiveness.
Memories Can Change Our Perspectives
Time flies! Life is short! We sometimes need to be reminded of that. In this hurry-scurry world, we can lose focus on what is important. God knows we are human, and He knows we tend to forget even the most important things. He sees us get caught up in the quest for prosperity, comfort and thrills. But thankfully, He gave us the Holy Spirit to be a still, small voice to remind us that we need to change our perspectives — to think about heavenly things and not earthly things.
