A Blast from the Past

Have you ever had someone call on the phone or send an email or Facebook you and start to communicate with you, and you have no idea who you are talking to? You are trying to be gracious to listen and all along you are simply trying to remember the person. Bold people will say, “Tell me your name again because I do not remember you.” Shy people will say to them-selves, “Just act like you remember them so they don’t know you don’t.” A gregarious, extrovert type person will say, “Hey guy (notice the unnamed greeting-) how are you and what are you doing now?” While the honest people will say, “Pardon my forgetfulness but I can’t bring you to mind. How have I known you?”
All of us have been through this situation and regret it. What is worse though is being introduced to a person and not remembering their name 5 seconds after you were introduced. Now that is just bad, but we all do it.
Isn’t it great that God does not have a past. It is all present to Him Who made time. Hebrews 13:5, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." God remembers your name. Past blasts remind us of time. We forget but we also move on. We are called to a different place, people, purpose… the past prepares us for the future and the future is a baby past. But God is not like this. He will never leave you or forsake you. What a great promise. God does not forget you.
Practically though, remember names! Repeat them within 5 seconds of learning them and the retention rate raises 45%. This is important especially for a new church. Try it this Sunday. Oh by the way, I am Pastor Will.