Paul says something curious in the Philippian letter about the role of memory, something that demands precise listening: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus, (3.13-14).  I have been taught that I should also forget the past, act as if it doesn’t exist. After all, if one is in Christ old things have passed away, all thing have been made new(II Corinthians 5.17).  It is true that the baptized raise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6.4), but it is also true that that newness does not involve an erasing of our memory banks – nor should it.

            In the first place such an erasure is not possible.  We do remember.  Memories sometimes have to be recalled from the files, but just as often intrude upon our consciousness – bourn by the smell of piping hot coffee, the chorus of a Beach Boys’ song, the line of a 1967 Ford Mustang. Memory is often as involuntary a reflex as yawning. How can we be required to notremember?  And wouldn’t such a command only make our memories stronger, increasing their influence on our values and choices?

            In fact, although Paul says he has forgotten, he hasn’t because he has just given us a detailed history of his life before Jesus (Philippians 3.1-12. This isn’t the only time he remembers.  As early as Galatians 1-2, as late as I Timothy 1, and in lengthy passages like II Corinthians 11-12 Paul gives us a lot of personal information from his past. So much for his loss of memory.).  If he has forgotten, how is this detailed account possible – unless by “forgetting” he means something other than “not remembering”?

            He tells us what he means by “forgetting”. His meaning has nothing to do with loss of awareness, and everything to do with direction and reach.  “Forgetting” means “facing forward.”  He faces forward, presses on, reaches for the goal.  The aim necessary to accomplish this is provided by his past and his present – they are the two points that give his line direction.  Remembering is necessary to “forgetting.” Peace with the past allows us to move on toward the future. Without memory striving is undirected, and useless. Without memory there is no hope.

            This I recall to my mind, and therefore I have hope Jeremiah says amid the ruins of the city, Jerusalem (Lamentations 3.21).  For him, the present is evident (albeit unbearable), the future is uncertain. If hope is to be found anywhere it must be mined from the past.  This I recall to mind, and therefore I have hope.  The loving-kindnesses of the Lord never cease.  His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness!  “The Lord is my portion” says my soul.  Therefore I will hope in Him. (vv. 21-24)  Jeremiah remembers God’s past acts of deliverance.  This gives him hope today, and hope for renewed mercy tomorrow.

            Psalm 22 takes us into the mind of Jesus on the cross.  In it the speaker experiences waves of misery, followed by waves of hope, which resolve into the joy of salvation.  The hope in Psalm 22 comes from memory.  In you our fathers trusted, and you delivered them...(v. 3). You have been my God from my mother’s womb…(v.10).  This memory occurs on two levels: the national, and the personal.  He has the entire history of God’s people to access, as well as his own past.  He does access those histories, receives from memory the anchor of hope, and survives.

            We only have two points available to us – the past and the present.  With these two points, though, we are able to identify our direction and face forward to a certain future.  Memory is necessary to hope.  If we can’t remember, we can’t move forward.