The first time we read about the importance of remembrance in the Bible is in Genesis 9:14-15. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.[1] The concept of God remembering does not mean He will forget but will actively and intentionally maintain His promise of keeping the covenant.
A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties to do certain things. The Lord’s covenant with Noah is unconditional, and His promise is accompanied by a sign of faithfulness, the rainbow, to remind future generations of this covenant.[2] Just as God remembers the covenant between all living creatures and places a rainbow in the sky, we can look to the rainbow and remember God’s faithfulness and mercy.
Remembering God’s Faithfulness
As we reflect on God’s faithfulness, it is easy to take His work in our lives for granted. When we take time to remember what God has done, it leads to thankfulness and gratitude on our part. The Lord reminded the Israelites several times in the Old Testament not to forget how He freed them from Slavery. Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. [3]
The Lord established the Passover Feast to be celebrated annually so the Israelites would remember and thank God for freeing them. As the Israelites remembered what God had done, it allowed them to refocus on the blessings of God. Remembering the Lord’s faithfulness puts life into perspective and shows God’s importance in our daily lives. Psalm 36:5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. [4]
Remembering Jesus’ Sacrifice
In the New Testament, the Lord calls us to remember His great sacrifice when we take the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:24Then Jesus broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.[5]
Remembering what Jesus did on the cross and how much He loves us is humbling. Paul tells us that everything in life is worthless compared to knowing Christ. Philippians 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.[6]As we remember what Jesus has done for us, it changes how we live life in this world and transforms how we see eternity. What a blessing it is to remember what Jesus has done!
To learn more about the importance of remembrance, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/restoration-through-covenant
[1,3-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] https://bibleproject.com/articles/covenants-the-backbone-bible/