I repeat myself. I remember in bible college one of the professors would constantly say, “Repetition increases remembrance,” as he repeated himself. I used to laugh at old people who would tell the same stories again and again. Now I am one of them. I wonder why I repeat? Perhaps as we age we experience less so we have less to tell. Our adventures become less adventurous and our excitement less exciting. So, we repeat the things that were.
My college professor was right on; however, repetition does increase remembrance. Peter thought so too. In his second letter, he reminds his readers of their faith and the things he wanted them to add—goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. He also urged them to make their calling and election sure so that they would not fall.
Then he started to sound like my college professor, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body …. I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” [2 Peter 1:12-15 NIV]
The things of the LORD need to be repeated. The world, the flesh and the enemy of our soul are loud and determined to erase biblical truths and the knowledge of God from our remembrance. Instead of always seeking new things to write or preach about, I need to be like Peter – it is right to refresh our memories of the biblical truth we already know.
