That Lingering Memory, We All Have Them

[HKHaugan]

When you think about a person, when someone comes to mind, when an event takes place, what is the last image you have? What picture comes into your head? What sound, action or impression pops into your mind? A mispronounced word, a Freudian slip, spilled coffee on a white rug, an unintended expletive in front of others when someone stubbed their toe, a lapse in judgment and emotion during a heated argument about nothing and on and on. What we find is that no one comes out perfect. There’s always some imperfect, humorous, out-of-order or even disgusting reflection.

But it is not only in others. It is also in our own reactions that we wish we could forget and hope no one else remembers. It’s that ‘I-could-kick-myself’ moment when we think to ourselves, ‘how could I have said that, done that, not controlled the moment?’ They come up from time to time don’t they? Both in self and others need help.

Embarrassment, regret, remorse and guilt top the experience. Actually we ought to be thankful for those occasions. They give us a chance to reflect on what caused either the images we saw or the reactions we had. Three things rise before us:

First, we see the flaw in human nature. No one is free from imperfection both in thought and action whether it is intentional or inadvertent. Human nature is in tilt mode. Sin is the red light flashing when the ‘need maintenance’ light comes on your personal dashboard.

Second, because these instances come back to bite us, as disciples we know it is a Spirit led moment. Memory becomes a meter to show whether or not we are growing. If a memory keeps us repentant and aware of where we are and whose we are, then our ‘grow’ meter goes forward. If it only comes back to haunt us and we try to find a way to deny, escape or excuse it our ‘grow meter’ goes backward. The Holy Spirit is always there to identify the problem which is usually an unhealed emotional or spiritual stronghold. And because it is the Holy Spirit the grace of God is operating in us to let us know God’s acceptance reigns and we don’t need to beat ourselves to death.

Third, each experience of repentance brings with it God’s forgiveness and how much was accomplished when Jesus took our sin and nailed it to the Cross. We are not doomed to live in guilt, regret and remorse. In fact when we realize what God has done for us it can be a moment of laughter not despair, a little jolt of “Gee, you really do work in my heart and mind personally don’t you Lord?” That is a moment of what is called freedom where we get the picture, “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free (Gal.5:1).”

These three things, our flaw, the work of the Spirit and our personal Lord, help us to see where we are on our “grow meter.”

One more thing. In reading about Jesus in the Gospels have you noticed that Jesus is the only person who never had regrets, remorse, guilt, fear, lack of control, envy, pickiness, no insecurity, no ego concern and all those other things that sin erupts in us? No images placed in our minds that would get us to focus on His momentary lapses of which there were none? The last images that He left were those on the Cross, His Resurrection and then His ascension into Heaven. Of course Revelation has even more but those essential moments of His greatest events linger and He remains unblemished as Savior and Lord even in the most seemingly insignificant moments. Now consider all that and how He knows every moment in every person’s life everywhere in all time and eternity. Now there’s something that can only be described as ‘awesome.’