Don’t forget who you were.

When we look back at who we were and realise how far the Lord has brought us it helps us to realise the mercy of God and helps us to stop being arrogant.

VAGA magazine

I am sure we have all looked at photos of ourselves from years ago and thought, ‘How could I possibly have chosen to wear that outfit.’  or ‘Why on earth did I have that hairstyle? It looks ridiculous!’ But along with those thoughts can come, ‘Thank the Lord I am no longer that person anymore.’ My husband quotes the example of his passport photograph. Before he came to the Lord his face looks haunted and his eyes look dead. When he renewed it after his decision to follow Jesus the difference was astounding. 

It is a good thing to remember who we were before we accepted salvation through Jesus. In an article by John Piper he says, ‘It is of great spiritual benefit to remember the hopeless condition in which we were and would yet be without salvation by grace alone through Jesus Christ.’ 

It is easy to forget who we were before we met Jesus, when we lived in the world and not for Jesus. Remembering who we were does not mean dwelling on and feeling guilty about the terrible mistakes we made. It means remembering what sort of person we were. If we do this it will greatly affect the way we treat and interact with believers and non-believers. If we remember who we were we will not be so quick to judge people who do not know the Lord. How often do we say, ‘How could they do such a thing?’ when we would have easily ‘done such a thing’ and would maybe capable of even worse things, if we had not met with Jesus. 

Paul himself called to mind how he and others were before Jesus came into their lives. In his letter to Titus chapter 3 verses 2-7 he reminds Titus and the church in Crete how they were before they became believers and he tells them:  'to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.' 

We have nothing to feel superior about, because we would be in the same position as an unbeliever, if it were not for Jesus dying on the cross for us. Jesus, who had no sin had such a compassion for sinners, how much more should we, who are sinners washed in the blood of Jesus.

When we look back at who we were and realise how far the Lord has brought us it helps us to realise the mercy of God and helps us to stop being arrogant. It becomes clear to us that none of this is our own doing. The Israelites, whilst in the desert were told by Moses on many occasions that they should remember how God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They did not remember however. In Psalm 106:13-15 says: But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.14 In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.15 So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. Again in Psalm 106:21-23 it says: They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.23 So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.

When we read in many places in scripture that the Israelites forgot what the Lord had done for them, we can say to ourselves, ‘How could they not remember all those miraculous things the Lord performed for their benefit,’ but aren’t we just the same? We too were taken out of slavery, slavery to sin. We too have had a miraculous transformation in our lives so let us never forget where we have come from.

Recently at an event arranged by our fellowship we heard a poignant yet heart- warming testimony from a dear lady in our church family. We know by the reaction that it touched the hearts of many people there. Who knows what seeds were sown that day?

When we remember where we came from, as that lady did, it makes us dwell on the preciousness of forgiveness and when we share with others about our bondage to sin, our delivery from that slavery and that gratitude for our forgiveness, then it glorifies God and puts the devil in his place. Satan would rather we kept quiet about these things but when we share our testimony it is a great blessing to others and makes them think about the reality of God and often sows seeds that could lead them into their own journey of salvation.

Phil Ressler

In an article by Dr Bill Widen he argues that so many people want to jump straight from Ephesians 2  verse 10 straight to verse 13. He says that 11 and 12 about remembering are so important.

Ephesians 2:10-13:  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Dr. Bill Widen says, "The greatest thing in the world is to be saved"? Why isn't the experience of salvation like the first morning of vacation, with the sun rising over the lake, and the air crisp and clear, and the fish biting, and the bacon sizzling, and all the family healthy and happy, instead of being like a grey drizzly day with a hole in the tent and everyone grumbling? Why is lukewarm love for Jesus so common and white-hot devotion so rare? One of the reasons is this: You can't bring the burner of commitment and affection up to white-hot if you short-circuit God's heating element and jump the current from Ephesians 2 verse 10 to verse 13. Part of God's heating element to intensify our affection and deepen our devotion is the command, "Remember! Remember! Remember that we were hopeless!"

Lord, we pray we will always remember who we were before we met with you and not forget the miraculous transformation you have brought about in our lives. Amen

Author: Thelma Cameron

May God bless and enrich your life

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