memories

I have been reading a book that deals with heaven and one of the points that is made is that we will have memories in heaven of this present, earthly life. This was a little surprising to me. I hadn’t really thought about it before or read anything about it before this time, but it still surprised me. I had just assumed that this current life would have no place in heaven, how could it and heaven still be heaven. There is so much pain and death and suffering here on earth. Our days are filled with trial and work and frustration and taxes and everything else that makes Monday through Friday so burdensome. It seemed to me that Heaven must be void of these memories for it to be Heaven. It is kind of like taking a vacation but all you can think about is all the work waiting for you after vacation, just the knowledge can be a stress. Just imagine if for eternity you had to endure a memory that was only pain and anguish. It would seem to take away from the bliss of Heaven. But, my thinking is changed now, or not changed but more enlightened. As I said, I really hadn’t studied or thought about the matter much till now so it is not like I had a firm grasp on anything. My thinking now is grounded scripturally, and because of it I am persuaded that we will have our memories in Heaven and not only will we have them but they will all be glorious.
I am not going to go into all the reasons and scriptures supporting this. I will give one scripture and one reason. The scripture: Rev 5:9-10, this is the song of the redeemed. The reason: For the redeemed to sing of their redemption would be to remember that they were redeemed. If we were blank slates in heaven then everything that transpired, namely the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, would hold no real value. There are more reasons based off scripture but those two are enough.
They will be glorious memories. When I think about memories I don’t think of my own, I think of our foster children. I have no horrible memories, some sad or disappointing or painful but nothing traumatic. These children have experienced violence and pain and abuse and atrocities beyond words. They have the memories and the scars. They have the physical and mental damage evidencing to them everyday what they went through. They may want to forget but not be able to, but in Heaven, they will not want to forget. That is not easy to say, and I do not say it lightly. It is heavy and hard and difficult to fathom but I am convinced it is true; and that it is good. How?
Every moment of our lives, from conception through death is governed by the sovereign hand of God. How we were born, when we were born, to whom we were born. We did not create ourselves or choose where to be, but we were placed by God and for a glorious reason.
Everyone in Heaven has been redeemed by Jesus. That is the only people that will be in Heaven, those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior. Only those that repent of sin and turn to Jesus will inherit eternal life. And all that trust Jesus in this life have the promises of Jesus fulfilled for them, including the promise that everything works together for good to those that love God and have been called according to His purpose.
We have a hard time seeing how everything will work for good, but an all-wise, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God doesn’t. We may not be able to see the good that it has worked in this life but we will in the next and we will for all of eternity.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” If we will have memories, which I am convinced we will and there will be no more pain, then the two must be reconciled and the reconciliation I see is glorious. Think, a day is coming when that which was intolerable and painful will appear good and right and worthy to be rejoiced in. Think, a day is coming when your greatest pain will be exposed for the glory working experience it was. Think, a day is coming when what seems so heavy and hard now will appear in its final state of good. Think of a day, when you can look back over your life, redeemed by Christ, and rejoice at His…sovereign; yes, sovereign, but loving hand guiding you into everything that you encountered, and in that day, it is seen for what it was, a stepping stone to good and a momentary affliction working for you are far greater weight of glory. For I do not consider our present circumstances and trials worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed to us and in us.
That rejoices my soul and steadies my life upon Jesus. Now, in the midst of your pain, you can rejoice to know that in Jesus, you will see the good and glory of even your greatest tragedy. You may not understand it now but you will be able to rejoice in it for eternity. Lord, open our eyes to see as you see, and to recognize a loving sovereign hand.