I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant. (Genesis 9:15-16, ESV)
Fifty-three years ago today, on June 24, 2025, I played golf. It was a Saturday. Why do I remember? There are two good reasons.
One is that it was the first round I played where I hit every green in regulation. It was the golf course I had grown up on. Different tees for the front and back turned 9 holes into 18 and a par of 71. And 71 is what I shot, because I two-putted every green.
I also remember I played golf that day because I got married that evening.
And, should my memory be called into question, the fact that I played golf on my wedding day was chronicled in our local paper. The “about town” writer happened to be at the golf course that day and saw us after the round.
On Monday, his column included something like, “It’s not true that Lewis Greer wore golf spikes to his wedding last Saturday night….” It still makes me smile.
You may remember the exact date of some special round of golf. Maybe it was at a famous course or with a special group, or you had your best score or a hole-in-one, or all of that.
To be clear, though, golf doesn’t remind me that I got married. Quite the opposite. Sometime on our anniversary, I am likely to remember that round of golf. And I now say in public (in case my wife reads this) that the round was great fun, but the wedding was better.
God, in his word, says to his people many times, “Remember.” But the first time he uses the word, it is to say he will remember. When he sees the rainbow, he says it will be a reminder for him.
A couple of thousand years later, God gave Jesus’ followers a reminder, which we call “communion.” Its purpose is to help us remember that Jesus’ body was broken, just as Jesus broke the bread, and that his blood was poured out for us, just like the cup (1 Corinthians 11:23-29).
Reminders are good to have. God made one for himself. He often encouraged his people to make reminders for themselves, and then he gave us a very special one through Jesus when he ate his last meal. Remember.
Prayer: Father, even though we need reminders, may we never forget that Jesus gave his life so that we might live. In his mighty name, Amen!