A couple of weeks ago I read a young fiction book called The Giver by Lois Lowry. (I'm reading a bunch of books that are in my oldest son's reading level so that I know what he's reading, etc. Thus, the Bronze Bow, The Giver, etc) A very general description of its premise is that memory is a key element which defines us as individuals and which creates morality for us as a culture. It's an extremely intriguing idea, and one which I believe is not contradictory to Biblical principle in a general way. I kept thinking about the fact that God created memory. He created us to remember. Why? He didn't have to do that. He could have made us however He wanted. But He chose to give us memories. I believe memory is a critical aspect of our character. It plays a key role in the way God reveals Himself to His people. Flip through the Old Testament and you will find the word "remember" repeated over and over. God was constantly reminding His people of what had happened in the past. He uses the past, memory, to help us understand His character, to assure us and comfort us regarding the future, and to reveal His perfect plan of redemption to us in a way that we can grasp it. Posessing the ability to remember also enables us to learn experientially. We are skeptical people. It is so much easier to understand and accept something with which we have past experience than it is something we know nothing of experientially. I just think it is so cool of God to create us to be so complex, and to reveal His character in such amazing ways.
Psalm 119:52 I remember your ancient laws, O LORD ,
and I find comfort in them.
Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD ;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago
Amen! I'm intrigued with memory very much.
Posted by: Jeannette at Octubre 5, 2004 08:37 AM