A Cord of Blue

Articles

Kevin Heaton
12/08/24 - The Zephyrhills Beacon

Have you ever told somebody like your parents, children, spouse, friend, neighbor, or even yourself that you wouldn’t forget about something? And because you were confident in your brain’s exceptional skill of retaining information, you didn’t write a note or anything to make sure you wouldn’t later on forget. But, next thing you know, you don’t remember the thing that you were supposed to know. You forgot. If this has never happened to you, then show us your cape because you must be a super-hero. Some of us are better when it comes to memory, but most, if not all, of us forget a thing or two in our lifetime. It’s in our nature. We can only retain and recall so much information at a time. And quite frankly, we remember most of the things that we have interest in. Things that we care about. Things that are important. Or things that we enjoy.

What kinds of things do we sometimes forget? You can make your own list, but here are some items, both big and small, that we sometimes are susceptible to forget: take out the trash, keys in the car, paying a bill, birthdays, anniversaries, names, picking kids up from school, a sleeping child at the church building, most things learned in school, directions, things you actually said, etc. Some of those are really small potatoes. But it is shocking to think that we can actually forget some of those very important things. But it happens. We’d like to say that we would never forget something that is important. Never say never.

But there is hope! Like the age old string tied on the index finger, we have a lot of ways to help us remember things. Sticky notes, pads of paper, apps on our cell phones, book marks, alarms, people who will constantly remind us so that we don’t forget. If we will use these kinds of tools and tricks, then we will significantly reduce the chances of us forgetting.

What about when it comes to God? Spiritual matters? Faith? Obedience? Purity? The Bible? Do you think that it is possible for us to forget such things that are the most important in our lives? It really can happen. Sadly, we can and do forget things from time to time that God tells us about His commandments, how we are to be holy, or even the significance of worshiping Him. God, our Creator, has always known this about us. He knows our nature to forget, either by ignorance, neglect, or selfish desire which leads to selective memory.

We see through the Bible time and time again that God was constantly reminding the world of who He is, especially His chosen people. God was leading His people but they constantly would start to turn away from Him and He’d have to pull them back. Have you ever walked a dog? You have to keep it on track because it will often be distracted and try to walk this way or that. That’s what we humans are like. That’s what God has had to deal with from the beginning. That is what He is dealing with now.

One of my favorite instances that God gave His people something to help them make sure to remember and obey His commandments is found in Numbers 15:37-41. “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put A CORD OF BLUE on the tassel of each corner. And it will be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all My commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” A simple thing like a tassel on the clothes with a cord of blue was used to be a visual aid to keep them focused on God throughout the day. God knows how to help His human creation.

We see another time God stressed to Israel that they were to remember Him, His commandments, and to be faithfully obedient. When God was getting ready to allow the people to go in and conquer the promised land of Canaan, through Moses He instructed them to remember that He is the LORD God Almighty, the only God. He was the One who saved them from Egypt and led them safely through the wilderness. He was the One giving them that great land by His grace. They were to obey all His commandments. In Deuteronomy chapters 6, 8, and 11, Moses told the people that they were to love the Lord with all their heart. Remember His commandments and obey them. Do not forget Him. And this is how Moses stressed that: “You shall lay up [God’s words] in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall… [talk] of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (11:18-20). I don’t think that Moses meant that they literally had to do these physical things, but it makes the point very strongly. And it wouldn’t hurt to do something like that.

Today, we need those cords of blue. We need to be talking of God constantly. We need to put those reminders around us somehow, some way. That’s because we are no different than the people of Israel. Not any different than Adam and Eve. If we are not careful, we will forget the love we are to have for what God has done for us. We will forget to fear God as we should. We will forget how to live holy lives. We will be distracted and tempted by our own desires or pleasures. We will choose our way over God’s way. Therefore, we need reminding. The greatest tool God has given us today to remember to do His will is the Bible. Keep it close. Memorize it. Read it often. Check and recheck. And then check and recheck again. Make it your cord of blue. Find other ways to be reminded of spiritual thoughts and instructions. God will not forget us. Don’t forget Him.