The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Memories in heaven

During a small devotional last night, I was speaking about how we will remember things when we are in heaven, things good and also things bad here on earth. Some eyes got big, since many tought that God would erase our memories. I realized, that is what a lot of people believe today.

If that were the case, then we wouldn't understand why Jesus died, nor would we be singing worthy is the Lamb! Our lives here would be a waste of effort etc. I pointed this out because I wanted them to realize that we must live with no regrets. In Luke 16:28, Jesus said the rich man remembered his brothers and wanted to send someone to warn them. I just thought I would post this in case anyone else thought God erased memories when we get to heaven and they want to discuss it. The word says He will wipe our tears Rev. 21:4, not out memories.

On the same idea, I also believe we will get information from departed souls on the state of affairs on earth as they come to join us. Souls returning home from a far country (this world) with news of what is going on. People don't believe that either because if our memories are erased when we get to heaven, we wouldn't have any news!

I know the individuals on this discussion board are quite intelligent, so if this seemed like a stupid post, I apologize.

Hisalone

It's not stupid. You are quite right, we will retain our memories (although surely cleansed of any sinful thoughts - not that we won't remember sins, but that we won't remember sinfully).

J. C. Ryle wrote an excellent tract entitled Shall We Know One Another? You can read it online here! (Word document)

"Think, Christian reader, of seeing your Saviour, and beholding your King in his beauty. Faith will be at last swallowed up in sight, and hope in certainty. Think of the many loved ones gone before you, and of the happy meeting between you and them. You are not going to a foreign country; you are going home. You are not going to dwell amongst strangers, but amongst friends. You will find them all safe, all well, all ready to greet you, all prepared to join in one unbroken song of praise. Then let us take comfort and persevere. With such prospects before us, we may well cry, 'It is worth while to be a Christian'"

Thank you Marie for providing this link to Bishop Ryle's work. It is a lovely read, for it provides comfort to the believer. Such joy awaits those who are in Him—beyond imagination—for such a hope sustains us through our trials here.

Another misunderstanding is the issue of soul sleep, I got some strange looks on that one too. People just do not think on these things and accept whatever sounds good or what they hear. As I pointed out, it is the body that requires sleep/rest, our souls do not sleep nor do they need sleep, spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Soul sleep is an error many in the church believe. Some misinterpret the final resurrection as the resurrection of our souls when they were already resurrected the day we were united to Christ (it is sad that Christians do not understand the impact of this statement!!) Eph. 2:6. They fail to understand that there are actually two resurrections, our soul, which already took place in Christ and our bodies Rom. 8:23. Things like this are hardly ever spoken of from the pulpit and so many go about life without any idea of who we are and what the future has in store.