Let’s dig a little deeper. In last week’s post, we approached the matter of “euphoric recall” — our tendency to remember past experiences more positively than they actually were, and not to recall the negative things associated with those events — for instance, the insecurities, disappointments, or pains, both those we suffered and those we inflicted. As we observed, such selective memory embellishes our past, deflates our present, and sets an unreasonable standard for tomorrow. Moreover, it coaxes us back to a life we thought we left behind.
Consider the addict who has been sober for some time. Seeing some friends drinking and laughing together, she thinks, “Maybe one drink wouldn’t hurt,” or “I’m not sure sobriety is worth missing all the fun I used to have.” Forgetting the frustrations and failures of a life formerly spinning out of control, she lets the feelings of the moment distort the lessons from her past. Here is another example: Recalling a former “flame” through the foggy mist of time, the man “follows” her a little too closely — and “likes” her a little too wrongly — on social media, remembering the warmth of companionship, but forgetting all the reasons each is now an “ex” of the other. Or what about all the times we compromise godly gain to regain worldly approval? In these moments, we can recognize and resist the deception of revisionist recollection, or emulate the puppy of Proverbs, instead: “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”1
So Peter charges us to detect these and other deceptions, and to own our response to temptations: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct . . .”2 Through the wonder of God’s favor, we are liberated and empowered for exactly this. Paul writes, “For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”3 Peter likewise reminds us of God’s provision: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”4
The psalmist Asaph wrote, “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.”5 With this honest look-back, he entrusted his present and future to God: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”6 May we so live today.
I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to foolishness. — Psalm 85:8 NASB
Our Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.7 In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 Proverbs 26:11 ESV
2 1 Peter 1:14-15 ESV
3 Titus 2:11-12 ESV
4 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
5 Psalm 73:21-22 NIV
6 Psalm 73:23-24 NIV
7 Matthew 6:9, 13 ESV
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Paul Nordman—Author 