Forgetting God

Sounds highly unlikely, or preposterous, or even impossible; the idea that anyone who knows God and has a relationship with Him could ever FORGET Him. But the fact of the matter is this: Faithful men throughout history have forgotten God at times. The records and the examples of God’s children FORGETTING Him are found throughout Scripture. “FORGETTING GOD” is referenced 20 times in the Psalms; and 10 times each in the books of Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Jeremiah; just for starters. New Testament writers in Romans, II Corinthians, Hebrews, and II Peter, also remind each of us not to FORGET GOD.
Notable Bible characters even FORGOT GOD at times. When God determined to release the Israelites from Egyptian bondage by His powerful hand, He personally chose Moses to lead them. The Lord obviously saw leadership qualities in Moses, but Numbers gives us insight into why this particular man may have been chosen for this extremely important mission and office: “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth”. (Num 12:3). But even with his humility, Moses FORGOT GOD and sinned against Him. While traveling in the wilderness, Israel needed water. God told Moses to take his rod and go speak to the rock and the water would flow freely. But Moses disobeyed and struck the rock with his rod. God announced Moses sin and punishment on the spot. “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them”. (Num 20:13).
Other well known Bible characters who FORGOT GOD for a time include David (adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah – II Sam 11). AND Solomon (Loved and married many strange, forbidden women and worshiped idols with them – I Kings 11). Let each of us be aware that we could go down that path away from God also if we are not careful.
Satan and his forces are the ones constantly working to get us to FORGET GOD. He is our enemy and is out to destroy us. I Peter 5:8 is the verse we usually quote and discuss when talking about Satan, but do you recall how the passage begins? Different translations render the first words: “Be sober; Be vigilant; Be watchful; Awake; Be on the alert – “Because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. Jesus knew how dangerous Satan was to all his followers and prayed Himself for the disciples. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one”. (John17:15). Paul wrote in II Cor 2:11 that since Satan could take advantage of him, he made sure that he was well aware of Satan’s devices and tricks. If Paul was concerned with this danger, we certainly ought to be also.
The Bible is full of warnings and counsel against FORGETTING GOD. “Then it shall be, if you by any means FORGET the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God”. (Deut 8:19-20). Look at the many lessons taught in these few words about FORGETTING GOD: It does not matter why one forgets God, he will die; When a person turns away from God he will find something or someone else to worship; Forgetting God involves turning to false idols, and worshiping them among other things. When we FORGET GOD, we are completely ignoring history because we know how God destroys the nations who are disobedient to Him. Also, we forget God when we do not keep all His commandments. Moses told the Israelites in Deut 8:11 – “Beware that you do not FORGET the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today”.
Signs That a Christian is heading toward FORGETTING GOD:
1-Finding excuses to miss worship and Bible classes.
2-Failing to read and meditate on God’s word at home (including not preparing for our Bible classes)
3-Looking around for another group where the worship seems “different and exciting”.
4-Losing the very real FEAR of God we should all have.
5- Becoming more loose or liberal on moral issues. 6-Dwelling more on fleshly things than spiritual things etc.
So, what all is involved in FORGETTING GOD? FORGETTING His Love; His Mercy; His Grace; His Longsuffering; His Patience; His Forgiveness; His Justice; His Daily Guidance; His Answers to your Prayers; His Pleadings for you to Repent! Are You ready to throw all these blessings away and FORGET GOD? Paul painted a sad and bleak picture of God’s reaction to those who FORGET HIM. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer; God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful, and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them”. (Rom 1:28-32). Let us all take a serious look at our relationship with our Creator and make certain we are drawing nearer to Him and not FORGETTING HIM.