Do you remember?
Do you even remember what you experienced?
Do you remember how helpless you felt?
Do you remember the hopeless that ruled your life?
Do you remember?
Do you remember wondering why you were alive?
Do you remember why you were walking this earth?
Do you remember questioning if you would ever do anything of any significance?
Do you remember?
Do you remember despair that filled your life?
Do you remember the utter lack of joy that ruled your heart?
Do you remember feeling like there was no way out?
Do you remember?
Do you remember thinking would anyone notice if I was gone?
Do you remember feeling like you were just another person in an overpopulated world?
Do you remember wishing there was something more meaningful than your experience?
Do you remember?
Do you remember the turmoil you would feel when bad things would happen?
Do you remember walking through trials and wondering if they would ever end?
Do you remember thinking that even if they did end, why bother because another one will come?
Do you remember?
Do you remember feeling all alone?
Do you remember wishing you could have someone, anyone to call a friend?
Do you remember going to sleep at night, hoping that tomorrow you’d have some significant encounter with another human?
Do you remember?
Do you remember the first time you heard about the hope of something greater?
Do you remember the doubt you felt that anything greater existed?
Do you remember thinking that anyone who talks about a greater life must be on drugs or incredibly stupid, because you looked around and saw that no one seemed to have a good life.
Do you remember?
Do you remember the first time God tugged at your heart?
Do you remember how it felt to have someone care about you for the first time?
Do you remember how everything started to change?
Do you remember?
Do you remember how your heart pounded and your hands shook as you thought about whether or not to make this decision?
Do you remember wondering if you were signing up with a cult and how long it would be before you had to drink the Kool aide?
Do you remember wanting to move, but feeling like your feet were glued to the floor because of fear?
Do you remember?
Do you remember how everything in your life changed?
Do you remember how everything got better? And even though you didn’t know how, somehow all of a sudden you had hope?
Do you remember being so excited about this new life that waited for you that you couldn’t wait to get up the next day to start it?
Do you remember?
Do you remember waking up the next day?
Do you remember wondering if what had happened the day before was real?
Do you remember the struggle it was to allow Jesus to really take a hold of your heart?
Do you remember?
Do you remember the battle you had letting go of all the mistakes of your past?
Do you remember feeling guilty for sins that you knew had been forgiven, but just couldn’t get past?
Do you remember feeling like maybe you had made a mistake?
Do you remember?
Do you remember going to church the first time as a Christ-follower?
Do you remember looking at everything that happened with new eyes? All of a sudden understanding what had been said and what had been sung as if some supernatural being had given you the ability to see for the first time?
Do you remember listening to God’s word and hearing God speak directly to your heart?
Do you remember?
Do you remember the first time you worshipped God first hand? It wasn’t just cool music anymore, you were worshipping a God you now knew personally.
Do you remember feel God present with you while you were gathered with other believers?
Do you remember feeling charged up by Who God is and what He did for you?
Do you remember?
Do you remember how you had to tell everyone about it?
Do you remember how you couldn’t keep you mouth shut, and how all of a sudden you were that guy that you had always hated, but you just couldn’t help yourself?
Do you remember inviting all your friends to church and wanting everyone you knew, everyone you used to know and everyone you ever would to know to be able to experience this same love that you know live in every day?
Do you remember?
Because if you have forgotten, maybe all you need to do is remember how amazing this grace is that you live in?
If you have forgotten, maybe you just need to look at the crucified son of God dying on a cross in your place.
If you have forgotten, maybe you just need to see your sins being nailed to that cross.
If you have forgotten, maybe you just need to see how Jesus did for you on that cross what no one else could do for you.
If you have forgotten, maybe you just need to remember that even though you were living in sin and doing really stupid things, Christ died for you. And He died for you, knowing in advance the kind of mistakes you would make. And he did it anyway.
If you have forgotten, maybe you just need to remember that he shed every last drop of blood for you, that he breathed every breath he could breath for you, and that when he died, he died for you.
Do you remember how you felt the first time you heard the story of Jesus and couldn’t believe the her of the story had just died?
Do you remember shaking your head in disbelief?
Do you remember thinking, why do people care so much about this Jesus? He is dead?
Do you remember feeling like you had lost all your hope, because the only hope you thought you might have to get out of what you were in had just died?
Do you remember the twinge of hope when you heard the story wasn’t over?
Do you remember wanting to jump to the end of the story and get to the good part already?
Do you remember how the earth went dark as the creation mourned the death of the light of the world?
Do you remember waiting while they took his body off the cross?
Do you remember waiting while put his body in a borrowed tomb?
Do you remember waiting while they rolled a stone in front of the tomb?
Do you remember thinking how ridiculous it was that they had Roman guard protecting the tomb?
Do you remember how everything felt different as the world went to sleep that night, while the world’s creator lay lifeless in a tomb?
Do you remember the depth of despair as you heard about that Saturday when the Savior was dead?
Do you remember Sunday?
Do you remember how the earth shook and the stone was moved and the light of the world shone forth his brightness once again?
Do you remember how Mary felt when she saw her teacher and recognized him as her Savior for the first time?
Do you remember John and Peter racing to the tomb, only to see the strips of cloth they had wrapped him in lying there with no body inside?
Do you remember doubting that he actually rose from the grave?
Do you remember wanting to feel the scars in His hands and feet and side to know that it really was Him?
Do you remember falling flat on your face and worshipping the first born among all creation?
Do you remember being in awe that the Creator of the world, did what He just did so that you could be there in His presence?
Do you remember the feeling of complete and total victory as you now have a savior who took the scariest thing any human could face and beat it down, deep into the ground?
Do you remember rising with him from that grave, covered now in His grace, wearing now His righteousness and standing in His favor?
Do you remember where you started and where you are now?
Do you remember feeling hopeless and lost, but now being full of hope with a clear goal before you?
Because if you can’t remember, maybe you never experience Jesus for the first time.
Because if you can’t remember, you probably never had Him.
Because if you can’t remember, you’re still at the beginning without hope.
Do you remember?