“I forgot to remember to forget” is the title of a song that Elvis Presley recorded on July 11, 1955. The lyrics of the song expresses the sentiment … I forgot to remember to forget her. I can’t seem to get her off my mind. I thought I’d never miss her… I think about her almost all the time.

Friends, it’s okay for some things in our past to remain un-forgotten, even though their memory is accompanied with sadness and regret. However, it’s not okay to forget to remember to forget experiences in our past that can harm our psychological and emotional well-being… dredging deeper in our hearts to allow the harbouring of more bitterness, anger, and resentment. Such memories need to be forgotten completely and expediently.

Through his band of fallen-angels, the diabolical kill-joy of the universe, Satan, goes about doing that which he loves to do… reminding us of past experiences where we have failed with God, others, and ourselves. Without God’s intervention, Satan’s relentless reminders cycle round and round, day by day, in the battlefield of our minds, disturbing our state of peace and harmony in life. Sadly, many lose their state of good health and well-being, and some suffer greater loss… their lives! (My older brother is one of them.)

In addition to Satan triggering our memory of circumstances that are best left buried and forgotten in the past, he “accuses” us of our wrong doing, and in doing so he presses us for a “guilty as charged” admission. Such responses are self-condemning… keeping us incarcerated in the prison of our minds with the belief we are not good-enough to live with a conscience cleared of past and present wrongs.

One day, after God proudly boasted of Job’s righteousness, Satan asked God for permission to test His earthly pin-up boy.  Scripture records… “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them” (Job 1:6). Satan “came with them” for the express purpose of getting his hands on Job to subject him to enough torment and discomfort that would cause Job to curse God. Satan needed justifiable grounds to accuse Job of the supreme sin of blasphemy against God.

Friends, Satan can’t help himself. It’s his nature to find fault in us, God’s pride and joy.  Whenever we fail through some unrighteous act or omission, Satan smartly puts-on his prosecutor’s garb and presents his accusations against us before the Judge of the High Court of Heaven. 

Many times I have been rightly accused by Satan for adopting an unloving attitude towards others who had hurt me in some way… exposing within me a heart of resentment and bitterness towards my offenders. The Accuser delights in reminding us of our faults and guilt. I admit I was “guilty as charged” and deserved nothing better than justice for each of my crimes… justice that renders me guilty and attracts the death penalty (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Truly, that’s fair-justice!

However, the High Court of Heaven is administered by a Judge who is more than “Just” – He is also Compassionate and Merciful! Long ago, having entered a guilty plea for my sinful nature, I appealed to God for mercy. Through His Son’s death on the cross the full debt of my sins, past, present and future, was immediately satisfied (Rom. 6:23). Therefore, I was able to stop moaning, “woe is me, a sinner!” Since then, at each occasion when I forget to remember to forget a past wrong-doing the Holy Spirit reminds me that Jesus’ “right-doing” has satisfied my sin-debt and has set me free. On the cross, before Jesus drew his last breath He cried out “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30). In other words, Jesus declared…”Bill’s debt is now paid in full – He is a redeemed and reforming debt-free sinner!”

Friends, in my right thinking I no longer see myself as a “guilty as charged”, self-incarcerated sinner… Jesus has pardoned me! Jesus has set me free! (Jn 8:36.) In the Book of Hebrews, God says, “I will never again remember Bill’s sins and lawless deeds” (10:17 para.).  Now that’s what I consider worth remembering never to forget!

Best wishes
Bill