Forgetfulness

​TITLE: Forgetfulness
DATE: December 10, 2018
TEXT: Isaiah 43:25  (ESV)  - I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
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Most of us have been known to forget things. You know, things like glasses and keys and shopping lists.

Most of the time, most of us do a little backtracking and, sooner or later, we manage to locate that which our forgetfulness has misplaced.  

Most of the time, most of us feel a little bit silly; but other than that our forgetfulness has done no serious damage to ourselves or anyone else.

That is not always the case. As evidence I share the story of Jet Airways Flight 9W697, a flight from Mumbai to Jaipur. All the preliminaries had gone just fine. The 166 passengers boarded in an orderly manner, the Pilot completed his check list and received permission to take off. There were no glitches or complications as the jet soared into the sky.

But then something happened.

Oxygen masks dropped down; some of the passengers began to bleed from their noses and ears; while others complained of a headache. The crew gave no explanation as to what was happening and, quite understandably, the people were frightened.

The captain turned the plane around, finally sharing what had already become obvious to the passengers: they were going back “due to a lack of cabin pressure.” After the plane landed, five passengers were taken to the hospital and eventually released.

Of course, you may be wondering what Flight 9W697 has to do with forgetfulness.

Well, I’ll tell you. The cabin on the Jet Airways flight didn’t pressurize because the crew forgot to flip the switch telling the plane to do just that. It was an act of forgetfulness which could have had consequences far more serious than a few nosebleeds and some headaches. I guess  some examples of forgetfulness are more serious than others.

Which brings us to the forgetfulness of our Lord.

Generally speaking, the Lord, Who happens to be all-knowing, doesn’t have a problem with forgetfulness. For example, He promised to send His Son to be our Savior, and, a few thousand  years later He kept that promise, just as He said He would. Other things, even minute things, the Lord remembers clearly.

In fact the only thing which the Lord forgets is that which He has promised not to remember.

If that sounds confusing, I would encourage you to look again at the passage above. Because of Jesus’ birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection, the Lord has promised to forget the sins of those who acknowledge Jesus as their Redeemer and Restorer.
We would be quite right in saying, “The Lord definitely remembers He has forgotten our sins.”, and because He has forgotten there is no more condemnation or punishment for us.

It is one time when forgetfulness has provided a blessing and a benefit.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for all Your Son has done to win my forgiveness I am most grateful. Although I may forget many things in this life, help me always remember the Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ of the cross.. In Jesus’ Name I pray it. Amen.
 
Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Merrit Kennedy for the NPR on September 20, 2018. Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active:  https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/649845581/indian-authorities-say-flight-crew-forgot-to-pressurize-airplane-cabin
 
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago  confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html