In recent years there has been a renewed emphasis upon remembering the gospel. This is so healthy for our souls. So often we are beset with gospel amnesia, and we forget the rich truths of all that God has done for us in Christ. And when we remember the gospel we can’t help but remember God. At the foot of the cross we are taught theology and able to, with tears of joy, see God’s simultaneous display of love, righteousness, holiness, mercy, wisdom, and faithfulness. It is so very good for us to remember.
But there is another angle to this that we sometimes forget. It is so simple that it’s often elusive.
God remembers us.
This is such good news to us. If we are honest we will admit that we do a poor job of remembering the gospel and remembering who God is. We are most often walking out of a theological fog distracted by commercials of our own desires. We forget to remember. But God never does.
You can feel the weight of this truth in a passage like Psalm 9 where the Psalmist is feeling the sting of persecution. Through the eyes of faith he is confident in God’s ultimate victory and he even boasts of as much (v. 4-6). But in the midst of his rehearsal of who God is and what he will do the Psalmist is reminded that God remembers them.
“Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.” (Psalm 9:11–12)
Consider the beautiful irony of this passage. The King of kings, whose deeds are worthy of being proclaimed among the nations, remembers the weak. He never forgets. His mind is a veritable steel-trap. He knows the conditions and concerns of his people. How encouraging is this? Amid acknowledging your own personal weakness you find such a castle of strength. The existence and needs of God’s people never escapes God’s mind.
God never forgets to sympathize with and comfort those who are hurting. To name just a few, he remembers to provide for you, comfort you, convict you, strengthen you, lead you, provide you with joy, apply the grace of Christ, keep you from apostasy, use you for his kingdom purposes, refresh you with his presence, and cheer you with his sweet promises. And on your last day when you close your eyes in death, you shall be awakened to see and know anew, that God remembers you!
It is good and right for us to remember God. We must regularly strive to ensure that we never forget any of his benefits (Ps. 103:2). Gospel amnesia will envelop our hearts and dictate our spiritual mood like a gloomy overcast day. So by all means, keep on remembering. Work to remind yourself and others. But as you do, be sure to not overlook this fact: God remembers you.
