Articles
Remember Me
Being remembered is something many people desire. To be forgotten by someone especially someone dear to us is a saddening experience. The Bible speaks about people who were forgotten by others. Joseph while in prison interpreted dreams for Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker. The butler’s dream meant the butler would be returned to his position. Joseph requests the butler to remember him and yet the butler forgot Joseph for two years (Genesis 40:9-15, 20-23). Can you imagine how devastating it must have been for Joseph to realize he had been forgotten by the butler? While men might forget us at times, even if we do great things for them (Ecclesiastes 9:13-15), our primary concern ought to be to be remembered by God (Psalm 27:10).
The Bible gives us several examples of people who want God to remember them:
- Samson at the end of his life wants God to remember him and grant him strength to topple the temple of Dagon. Judges 16:28 says, “Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, ‘O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!’” (NKJV).
- Hannah wants God to remember her and allow her to bear a male child. 1 Samuel 1:11 says, “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head’” (NKJV).
- Nehemiah did many great things for the people as he led them in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and corrected sinful practices among the people. Nehemiah would request God to remember the good he did on behalf of the people. Nehemiah did not take the governors portion from the people or oppress from them. Nehemiah 5:19 records his request, “Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (NKJV). Similar statements are made by Nehemiah in Nehemiah 13:14; 14:22, 31.
- Righteous people want God to remember them according to His favor and mercy. Psalm 106:4 says, “Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. O, visit me with Your salvation” (NKJV). Even a righteous man, like David, acknowledges his sin before God and asks, “Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord” (Psalm 25:7, NKJV).
- The thief on the cross, whom Jesus would eventually promise would enjoy paradise with Him (Luke 23:43), made the following request, Luke 23:42 says, “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’” (NKJV). Think of what an impressive statement this is to be made by one of the thieves being crucified with Jesus. Many people around Jesus did not think He was coming into His kingdom but the thief saw that. The thief did not want Jesus to forget him when Jesus came into His kingdom.
These men wanted God to remember them. We should want God to remember us for good as well. If God remembers us for good, we can look forward to being told, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34, NKJV). The opposite of being remembered by the Lord on that day will be to hear the fearful words, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV). Are we living our life in such a way that God will remember us for the good we have done in His service? Are we instead living our lives in such a way God will not remember and know us on the last great day? Let’s live in such a way and pray for God to remember us for good!
