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Seven Second Memory

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On March 27, 1985 Clive Wearing, an acknowledged expert in early music at the height of his career with BBC Radio, contracted herpesviral encephalitis, a herpes simplex virus that attacked his central nervous system. Wearing developed a profound case of total amnesia as a result of his illness. Because of damage to the hippocampus he is completely unable to form lasting new memories. His memory of events lasts between seven and thirty seconds. He spends every day ‘waking up’ every 20 seconds or so, ‘restarting’ his consciousness once the timespan of his short-term memory has elapsed.

In the book of Philippians 3:13-14 the Apostle Paul describes a spiritual form of amnesia when he writes: but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. AMPC

Jesus encouraged this amnesia in regard to our own lives when He exhorted His followers: And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. Luke 9:23 AMPC

In 2002 the BBC released a documentary about Sigmund Freud titled, Century of the Self. As I googled this title other options emerged: A Journey to the Center of Self, the Center for Self-Actualization, the Center for Self, How to Center Yourself, etc., etc. Whether it’s a century or a day, the journey to being centered in our selves doesn’t take long requiring no money, or psychological experts. You don’t have to travel to Tibet or get on the Marrakesh Express to discover Nirvana. All it takes is a look in the mirror. The true cosmic shift comes when you lift up your eyes, center in on the moment, becoming a “there you are” human being (instead of human doing). For some that takes a journey of a lifetime but others have looked upon Jesus. Time has stood still and all of a sudden the World of “Me” is not that important. All of a sudden you develop Holy Ghost Amnesia forgetting what is behind and straining towards what’s ahead. And in the midst of the journey you begin seeing “human do-ings” searching to become “human be-ings” again. Imagine being given the Grace to forget ALL that’s behind. All the hurt, offenses, regrets, pains and failures. Imagine praying for the Grace to see others forgetting what is behind, forgiving, and releasing others from the debt we think they owe us. Imagine being a “there you are” person – instead of a “here I am” person. Imagine, looking in to a person and seeing the treasures God sees. What would happen to our self-centered world? Would we find ourselves – “human be-ings?” Try this experiment all week.

Invitation To Friendship

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In the book, The Insanity of Obedience, its author, Nick Ripken writes: Betrayal within the faith community is a special concern, and it is important enough to demand specific attention. Consider this scenario: Expectations were high. After years of struggle and prayer, a house church was emerging among a resistant Muslim people group. Lives had been spent with this precious moment in view. Seeds had been sown and those seeds were now bearing fruit. Fervent prayers were being answered. Bold witness was being blessed. It was an exciting time. A church was being born. Almost immediately, it seemed, a Judas arose from within the group, exposing the inner circle of leaders. The small core of believers fled in disarray and fear. In an instant, the infant church seemed to disappear. Now, years later, these believers still wait in hiding for the birth of the first house church among their people. Nik Ripkin goes on to state, In light of the Biblical record and in light of Jesus’ response to His own Judas, let us consider some truths about Judas and let us consider what our response might mean for the growth and health of the Gospel. (1) We can expect to find Judas within our inner circle. (2) We can expect Judas to grow up within the movement and not to be imported from the outside. (3) With God’s help, we can choose to deal with Judas ourselves and choose not to export him to others. (4) We can learn to recognize Judas quickly. (5) We can be aware that Judas often has money issues. Regarding this last point Nik offers the testimony of a Muslim believer: When a seeker after Jesus comes to me, I ask them, What is it that you want: a car, a house, a wife, or to go to America? I tell them that I cannot even give them an aspirin. All I have is a cross. Do you want to pick up your cross and follow Jesus? That is all I can offer you. He then continued, “Everyone who followed Jesus in the New Testament gave up something. Everyone who comes to Jesus through a Westerner is trying to get something.“

There’s an interesting detail that Western readers often overlook when reading about the night of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. John 13:26-27 Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I am going to give this morsel (bit) of food after I have dipped it. So when He had dipped the morsel of bread [into the dish], He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 Then after [he had taken] the bit of food, Satan entered into and took possession of [Judas]. Jesus said to him, What you are going to do, do more swiftly than you seem to intend and make quick work of it. We know from Scripture that John, the Beloved disciple, sat to Jesus’ right at the table and that Judas sat to His left. In Jewish culture the seat of honor was on the left side of the one who headed up the meal. Jesus had given the seat of honor to Judas – who was going to betray him; to the one who stole money from Jesus and the other disciples. Jesus honored him. But it get’s much worse, or should I say, more convicting. When Jesus handed the morsel of matzah to Judas that also had symbolic, and cultural ramifications. What was its message? Through that one action Jesus was offering to Judas a lifetime of friendship and love. He was saying to Judas, Will you be my true and close friend?

As we celebrate Passover, and draw closer to the events of Christ’s crucifixion, we need to take the time to ask, Have we betrayed Jesus for protection, provision, spouses, family, cars, houses, or material gain? I am often haunted by a realization I had years ago, that Jesus has many acquaintances but very few friends. We all want Him for something. But in the words of Henry Blackaby, If you knew all you had was a relationship with God, would you be totally and completely satisfied? In other words, If you didn’t have any of the material wealth, or family and friends – would your relationship with Jesus keep you totally and completely satisfied? What are you living for?