Lest We Forget

Remember

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went there? I do—often. I move from the kitchen to the bedroom, pause, and draw a blank. Only when I return do I remember my original purpose. It frustrates me, and I get upset with myself. I also notice my younger son sometimes says, “I don’t remember you saying that,” to avoid following instructions. Memory is fragile, selective, and often unreliable. 

Yet, remembering is vital. In Perth, Australia, I learned a phrase that carries deep meaning: “Lest we forget.” Spoken on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, it honors the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans. Each year, people gather at dawn, pause at 11 a.m. for the Last Post, and wear or place red poppies to mark these moments in history. The purpose is simple but powerful: to remember, so that sacrifice and meaning are not lost with time. 

A similar lesson appears in the Bible. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, recorded an episode of forgetfulness after Jesus’ crucifixion. The women went to anoint His body, only to find the tomb empty and angels asking, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Then the angels said, “REMEMBER how he told you that the Son of Man... must be crucified and rise again on the third day.” At that moment, they remembered. They ran to tell the disciples, who initially thought it was a tall tale. Even Peter, seeing the empty tomb, did not remember Jesus’ words.

What a tragedy—to miss the most important event in history because they forgot what had been said.

Like the people of Perth, we must deliberately remember God’s Word. My mind may falter, but if I revisit, recite, and remind myself of His teachings daily, I will not miss the blessings of His gentle guidance until His return.

“… I will not forget Your word.”

—Psalm 119:16