Remember?

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Will I Remember?

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.””

Revelation 21:4 NIV

A question came up at the house the other day.  In heaven will we remember our lives on earth?  When you get to thinking about this its not so clear cut.  So, here are my thoughts on the topic. (The Bible does not give a clear cut answer.) Again I say these are just my ideas and are subject to change as I grow and learn God’s Word.  

Ok so here is how I answered the question. First we know from Revelations that we will not have and sorrow or mourning in Heaven. No more tears.  The verse also tells us the old things have passed away, does that include our memories?

I don’t think so and I will give two reasons.  First, we know that Jesus resurrected body bore the scars of His death. (John 20:27). Why would Jesus still carry the scars?  The scars are there so that we remember what Jesus did for us.  So that through all eternity we will glorify the Lamb that was slain. Who’s blood took away the sins of the world.  Yet how much gratitude would we have if we did not recall the great sacrifice.  And without the memory of my sin how could the sacrifice have meaning?  How could I remember just how far I had missed the mark.  With out the memories then the sacrifice would have less meaning.  I praise God the more because as I grow I see just how undeserving I was. For this very reason we will praise God for His gift that we did not deserve. And only by recalling that past can I fully see the magnitude of the gift.

The second reason I believe we will remember our lives is because of all the Saint in the Bible.  We are told that God’s word will never pass away.  His word will be remembered through all eternity. (Matt. 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25, Isa. 40:8) Well if God’s word last forever and what if your story was included in His word.  Look at the stories of all the Old and New Testament saints. Then the stories of your life and failings would be remembered in His word forever.  King David is a great example, although a man after God’s own heart. The Bible records his life and some of his moral failures. So, how could David ever forget his life, if the record of his deeds last forever?  

These thing will be remembered. 

So then if we remember our lives how can that not bring us sadness and crying? Well were do the sadness and sorrow come from?  Do they not come from sin?  Is not death, pain suffering, sadness, and tears all apart of the curse of sin.  Then would it not be true that with sin defeated then the consensus of sin would be no more.  With out sin the is no death, no sadness or sorrow.  Although I believe we will remember the details of our lives here on earth.  The pain from our sin will be gone.  Is this not what true forgiveness is all about? (1 John 1:9) In heaven we will remember God’s great love and forgivenesses.  Our past will no longer be under the curse of sin and will not cause us pain.  Instead we will rejoice and glorify our Lord for His great work.  It is our memories of what He has done for us that give His work personal meaning.  It is through a flood of thanks giving that my heart will praise for eternity. 

Well, these are just my thought on the topic, from my research into God’s word.  Let me know what you think. May God protect and bless you in the coming week.