(Genesis 8:1)
I read a story many years ago about a Nigerian, Harrison Odjegba Okene. He was on a boat that capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off the Nigerian Coast. The boat sank 30 meters to the bottom of the ocean and 11 crew members died in the mishap, but Okene who was the cook survived for almost 3 days! He found an air pocket in the freezing water and stayed there till divers came to his rescue.
He survived in the pitch darkness for over 60 hours. He had no idea what was going on outside. The divers expected to bring out dead bodies, only to discover one of the crew members was alive!
God remembered him down there.
God REMEMBERS.
And He DELIVERS.
And SAVES!
There are several instances in Scripture where God is recorded to remember people and delivered them.
God remembered Noah in the Ark.
God remembered Rachel and gave her children.
God remembered Sarah and gave her a son.
God remembered Joseph in the prison.
God remembered Hannah and gave her children.
God remembered Jonah in the belly of the whale.
God remembered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace.
God remembered Daniel in the lions’ den.
God remembered Jeremiah in the well.
God remembered Lot in sodom.
God remembered Samson in the philistine hall.
God remembered Paul in the shipwreck.
God remembered David when he was running from Saul.
Jesus remembered the Thief on the cross.
He remembered ME in my trials and tribulations.
He WILL remember YOU.
The Psalmist wrote, “Remember me o Lord, with the favour that you have toward your people.” (Psalm 106:4).
Nehemiah wrote, “Remember me, my God, for GOOD, according to all that I have done for these people.” (Nehemiah 5:19)
Inasmuch as we need God to remember us in the times of trouble, there are times WE need to do the remembrance, especially when things have eased for us. We all have the tendency to relax and be complacent when things are fine and there are no challenges.
Solomon advised, “Remember your Creator…” (Eclessiastes 12:1)
The Angel told the women at the Tomb, “Remember what He told you in Galilee…” (Luke 24:6)
In other words, Jesus had given them an information in Galilee that, if they had remembered, they wouldn’t have come looking for Him at the Tomb.
The question now is, what has He told you that you seem to have forgotten and you are doing stuff contrary to that information?
God told you clearly: “I have called you to be a Pastor”, but you seem to have forgotten because you have a good banking career and you’re making a lot of money.
God told you clearly: “You will open your own Bank in the next 5 years.” 2 years later, you have forgotten because “the winds are contrary”.
God told you as a teenager “You will own the biggest Hospital in the Country.” But after failing JAMB twice, you decided to change your course of study from Medicine to Botany and forget what He told you.
God told you clearly: “You are going to marry Sister X/Brother Y, but you seem to have forgotten, probably because Sister X/Brother Y is with someone else NOW.
Apparently, you don’t remember the Scripture: “…I am God. At the RIGHT TIME, I will make it happen!” (Isaiah 60:22).
As you want God to remember YOU, you MUST know there are times YOU must remember Him and His promises too!
Always REMEMBER that.
Shalom,
Haruna Daniels