I will not remember. In a year from now, I will not remember. Even though many looked forward to the day, prepared for parties, entertained guests, and wore garments only suitable for the event, I will not remember much about the recent Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams. In fact, I probably will not be able to recall who played in the game, what the commercials were trying to sell or who was on-stage at the halftime show.

In fact, I have little memory of last year’s game or the countless others before it.

This is not a new problem for me, and it is not because I had little interest in the two teams battling for the trophy, the rings, and the accolades, nor is it because I am experiencing a mental decline. These games do not matter beyond the moments I dedicated to watching them.

And yet, what we remember does matter. Certainly, important days, events, and milestones will last, and the “big game” scarcely rises to such remembrances except for those deeply invested such as the players, coaches, owners, and devoted fans. But what we remember does matter.

Biblically, the theme of remembering is a constant push by God. Roughly 240 times, readers are told to remember something important. We are to remember God’s promises, to remember God’s goodness, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to remember God’s provision, to name just a few examples.

But why are we encouraged to reflect on God’s qualities? To be sure, there are host of reasons to do so, but perhaps the main purpose for reminiscing is to keep us from doubt, wandering, and faithlessness. It seems our human nature is set to default regarding skepticism, distrust, and a penchant to historical shortsightedness regarding God.

For many of the same reasons, our nation has established times of remembrance so that we might not forget. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day are such examples.

In a similar fashion, each Sunday and on special occasions, too, we are invited to remember – to remember God. We consider our creation, our purpose, our needs, and our relationship with Him. We are afforded an opportunity to commune through music, the spoken word, and lasting ordinances. In short, we corporately remember.

Radio voice, Paul Harvey, once told a story of sailors stranded at seas for days. As the men approached starvation, a seagull landed on one man’s head. Quickly, the bird was apprehended, the flesh eaten, and the intestines used as bait for fish in the ocean. Every man survived because of the bird’s fortuitous sacrifice. Years later, the man whose head the bird landed was found to be feeding seagulls on a Florida pier. In fact, for decades the man fed the birds as an act of remembrance and thankfulness.

What do you remember in your life regarding God?

While I will soon forget the games, the highlights, and the scores, from the recent Super Bowl, my hope for all of us is that we will not soon forget the lasting provision of a benevolent God having given Himself for us.

Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ.