Memory Stones

Memories can make or break us. Everyone has a “past.” It
is how we deal with the memory blocks of the past that will determine how we face the future. Every memory can be a
step, up or down. It is important that the redeemed keep
in mind that as far as God is concerned we have no past,
only a future. We do have a memory though; and unless something happens to the part of the brain where events are stored, we will recall them from time to time. We just need
to “train” our brain to recognize the memory triggers
and be disciplined to react positively.

Memory is a wonderful thing, and a loathsome thing. Our memories are made up of past experiences, both good and
bad. They are etched into our minds, stored in our memory banks, and new experiences bring them to mind as they push
the buttons of past experiences and memories. The only
way we can completely loose memories would be to have a malfunction in the part of the brain where they are stored.

We can deliberately push memories into the dark corners
of our minds and, though we can’t completely forget them,
chose not to meditate upon them. We can also refuse to deal
with issues that have been contrary to our happiness and well being. Then these memories will be like termites eating away
at our foundation, threatening the support of our building.

We can selectively recall the ones that bring us pleasure. Even pleasant memories can be damaging to our building if they are sinful or rebellious toward God. The Bible says that there is “pleasure in sin” but only “for a season.” It is deceptive and temporary. How can we handle our memories so they are
reliable building blocks for our present and future? How can loathsome memories be useful in the building?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Paul lets us know that we have the ability to chose what we
think (meditate) upon. Unresolved issues that are troublesome need to be pulled out of the storage file and dealt with so we
can change their location and put them to rest in a forgetful
file or a to-do list file. We then submit these memories to the Builder who will use the raw materials, crushing and refining
them into usable “building blocks” for the foundation of our building (temple).

Our memories are “learning blocks,” the very foundation
of our lives. We cannot separate ourselves from our past; it becomes the foundation for the rest of our lives. Since these learning blocks are part of who we are, we can put them
to work for us. They became building stones in our
foundation for good or bad. If we have built our lives on
these stones using our own ingenuity, they will fail us and
make our building unsafe to live in. We will be pulling one
out now and then to think on and try to rearrange it to a
more suitable position, disrupting the building’s stability.
We might not even want to put it back, instead we hug it
to our bosom, rehash the experience, nurture it. If it is a bad memory, it will be detrimental to our mental health affecting
our total building. If is a good memory, we may try to live
in it. We can’t live in the foundation of our house.

Our “learning blocks” can be a great advantage to our present life, if we will submit them to the Master Architect who is the Corner Stone and stone cutter of our building.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

“Ye also, as lively [full of life] stones, are built up a spiritual house…Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone [Jesus],
elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not
be confounded” (1 Peter 2:5-6).

First, we need to let the Architect/Builder use His form into
which our memories are poured to form the blocks. They
will be made precisely to fit together and will then be tied
to the Corner Stone by which all others are aligned. If we try
to use our own forms to put the raw memory material in,
they will be flawed and uneven according to our emotions and present frame of mind. Our building will not be safe due to
the unreliable foundation.

Once the Architect/Builder has formed the memory blocks for
our foundation, He will lay them in a perfect line, secured
with the cement of Love and the joints dressed with Grace
and Mercy. They will line up with the Corner Stone forming a sound and safe foundation for our “building” (temple).

Only then is it a safe foundation upon which to construct our building. The Architect is a Master Builder; we can trust His expertise to bring our building (temple) to completion.
Though the construction will never be completely finished
in this life, it will be perfectly suited for our occupation. In
his book Abundant Living E. Stanley Jones said, “We are
only Christians in the making.” The Master Builder will be working on our “temple” as long as we live here; but when
it is time to be part of His city, New Jerusalem, it will be
complete and beautiful, fitting perfectly into the
City’s plans.

“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14). All of our
work must be under the supervision of our Foreman,
Jesus Christ.

We need to be spiritually mindful of how we are building our lives. We can’t take the awesome responsibility upon ourselves. We need to submit our plans to the Designer, Architect and Builder for approval, discarding any plans that are contrary
to overall plans of the Eternal City where our building will be located. We must keep in mind that the King will live in the
City and will not allow any buildings that have a foundation
not built by His Builder, lined up to His Corner Stone. That
is an eternal building code and will always be enforced.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…He that overcometh shall inherit all things…and
I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Revelation 21:2, 7, 22).

Don’t allow your memories to be your downfall; use them for
the Glory of God in the temple prepared for His habitation. Don’t try to construct your own building; leave all the
materials that you have stored in your memory bank at the building site so the “Professional” Builder can take your
memory blocks and create foundation stones. He will not
only build a safe and beautiful structure upon the
foundation, it will fit perfectly into His community
plan with the others He is constructing.

Have a building/temple that will last throughout eternity.
Allow the Planner/Architect/Builder to arrange and use your memory learning-blocks to construct a habitation that not
only is beautiful and safe to live in but one in which He
will feel at home as well.

October 5, 2004
Delores Adams
Copyrighted. All rights reserved.