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Forgetting is not always easy, or even possible for that matter. The people of debased and reprobate minds about whom Paul wrote in Romans chapter one had something they wished to forget, but were having a tough time doing so. God had reminded them time and again of His character and His demands for righteousness, but after attempting to call them back, God honored their wishes and “gave them over to a debased mind.” Consider the horrific facts contained in today’s text.

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1.26-32).

Notice in the middle of the paragraph (above) that these people “…did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” To put it another way, they told God, “We had rather just forget you!” Not that God wished them to succeed in forgetting Him (because nothing could be further from the truth), but God honored their wishes. He has never acted in a way to force Himself on any person. Even though He loves each and every person enough to give His Son for him/her, He steadfastly has refused to breach the gap of the wills and circumvent man’s free will. From the beginning He gave man the right of choice and He continues that even to this very moment. If man is to worship and serve the Creator, it will be when man decides that is what he wants to do!

Forgetting God is not an easy task! He has left His footprints everywhere in this universe. His voice is heard in every morning breeze. His tenderness is felt in the breath of every baby that graces the lives of awestricken mothers and fathers. His justice is encountered with every system of civil law that exists on the planet. His grace is experienced every time we escape the immediate punishment that our sins might otherwise deserve. His love is encountered every time we write today’s date in that the calendar itself is styled to accommodate the historicity of His Son. And somewhere in each of us, even the most hardened of us, a voice named conscience begs us to do what we ought, a sense that only derives from Creator God. Yes, it’s hard to forget God, even when we want to. His pursuit is relentless.

So much is at stake! God will allow us to do what we will toward Him. He will even allow us to shout at Him, ridicule Him, besmirch His holy name, deny Him, and yes, even forget Him. But, nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate us from His love! Only a friend of infinite love can act like that, but why would we want to forget a friend like that! Remember now your Creator…!

Questions

1. Can you control what you forget? Are there things you want to forget but can’t?

2. How did God react to these people who wanted to forget Him?

3. How does God treat our free will? Why does He limit Himself when it comes to compromising the principle of free will?

4. What would it take to separate us from God’s love (see Romans 8.38-39)?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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