Revival and Remembrance

In his message at the Founder's Breakfast at the Southern Baptist Convention last week, Voddie Baucham declared that revival occurs "when God awakens His people by reminding them of past lessons and bringing them into present repentance." You can read a summary of his message on revival at www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=25918.

I believe Baucham is dead on. God often exhorted Israel to remember their past deliverance by His hand so that they might repent and trust in Him and obey Him alone. We see this throughout the history of God's chosen nation. The past/present motif is captured in Numbers 15:40-41:

40 "Remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God.
41 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God."

The book of Deuteronomy is replete with the exhortation to "remember," as are most of the historical books, the Psalms, and the prophets. In the New Testament Paul challenges the church at Corinth to remember the sinfulness of Israel and the goodness of God and repent so that they might demonstrate unity in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 10).

Most notably for us, however, is the remembrance the believer is commanded at the Lord's Table. The nation of Israel and God's dealings with them serve as a picture of God's dealing with us, not through the blood of bulls and goats, but through the body and blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. We are to "remember Him" in His glorious person and work. We are to repent of any present sin and press on in following Him by faith.

I trust you see the importance of the word "remember." It was and is and always will be a word of the covenant. By God's grace, may we "remember Him" today, repent of our sins, and follow Him.