A few guys were hanging out after church having some coffee together. They were sharing with each other about what their lives were like before they became Christians. All of them spoke with gratitude for what God had done.
But one of them seemed to take delight in telling about the kinds of things he used to do. “I was slinging drugs and making so much money I would lose track of it. I used to fly to Vegas with a big ol’ wad of cash and some hotties that I can’t even remember their names, or what we did there…”
He seemed more impressed with what he was, than with what He had become in Christ.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)
This verse doesn’t tell us that God “can’t” remember our sins, but he “will not” remember our sins anymore. Because of his lovingkindness and mercy, he chooses to relate to us as if we had never sinned.
Can you remember where you were and what you were doing when God’s mercy came into your life? The place where he found you? Revealed himself to you? And changed you forever? That’s a special place!
But it isn’t a beautiful place…
It’s in that place that you were lost, hopeless, and evil. The bible describes it like this,
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil…All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger… (Ephesians 2:2, 3, NLT)
The place where God’s mercy found you should never be forgotten. What He did in that place, and in your life subsequently, is your testimony. It’s what He did in that place that causes your hands to go up and your mouth to be filled with praise. It’s what cause tears to fill your eyes when you think about it.
But nothing about that place is glamorous, or something to boast about. So, if like our friend mentioned earlier, you decide to recount how impressive your sinful activities were prior to Jesus coming into your life, there’s no point in bothering God for insight, because he doesn’t remember any of it!
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