“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
Last evening came the crushing reality that I had forgotten something. I wanted to do some planning for our upcoming sermon series in Hebrews, and knew that if I worked at the office during the week there would be a myriad of distractions that would intrude. So Wendy and I decided that a week in Orlando would work well. I can work undistracted, and she can play at the resort.
Well, we got to the resort last evening, and when we were finished unpacking I realized that my backpack with computer, books, and bible was still at my house. Many would call this a “senior” moment, and I suppose I fit the bill. But it was gut-wrenching to then have to deal with the consequences of my forgetfulness.
This morning I rose early and left for home around 5:15. I had retrieved my backpack along with some incidentals that were also forgotten, though not nearly so monumental and was back on the road to Orlando by 7:35.
That did allow me considerable time to chew on forgetfulness this morning, and it left me praising God that he, too, is forgetful. Now, my forgetfulness is due to my finitude, and the progressive loss of brain cells that comes with aging.
The striking thing about God is that he purposes to forget. And even in this we can marvel at the greatness of our God. Most of us have been exhorted a few times to “forgive and forget.” Sounds easy, but the reality is something far different. It is truly difficult for us to forget, and maybe equally hard to forgive.
The other thing about God’s forgetting is that it is also rooted in remembering. When the last plague was to pass through Egypt, the Israelites were instructed to paint their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. When death came for the firstborn in Egypt, the blood was a reminder that the atonement had been made, and death would Passover those houses.
But all of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were pointing to a time when God himself would blot out our transgressions. And he would do it for his own sake, desiring to ransom a people for himself. “But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4).
And all of this got me singing.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest. Refrain
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet. Refrain
Rejoice today in a God who purposes to forget all our sin, for truly, Jesus paid it all!