Lasting Impressions

John C. Robertson

There are events in all of our lives that leave lasting impressions upon our minds. such as our marriage, a child being born, our baptism, first home run, and even the death of a loved one. The greater the event the deeper the imprint upon our mind and less likely that we forget.

Bible events leave some of the most lasting impressions upon the minds of those who read its pages. these Bible events. spoke and the universe and humanity was created. Moses, by the power of God, opens the Red Sea and collapses it upon the Egyptian army. The walls of Jericho fall. David slaying Goliath. The zeal of Jehu as he tramples Jezebel under his horse's hooves. Job's suffering at the hand of Satan. Jeremiah lamenting the horrific siege of Jerusalem when God's people ate their own children in a state of great desperation. Jonah being swallowed by a great fish, taken to the depths of the ocean, and surviving the ordeal. Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, raising Lazarus from the dead, and feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. Who can ever forget the horrific death of Christ on the cross, his resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven?

Furthermore, great impressions are left in our mind after reading about the apostle Paul's journeys with the hardship and trials he underwent. There is the deep impressions left in our minds after reading John's revelation of the wicked of all humanity being trodden underfoot till their blood rises to bridle of the treading horses. The visions of hell are depicted as horrific and agonizingly painful for all eternity. Heaven, on the other hand, leaves deep impressions of eternal comfort and joy.

The value of these events cannot be underestimated. Each of these events recorded in divine revelation impress upon our minds the reality of Jehovah God as the Almighty creator and sustainer of man. When people pause for a moment to look about and absorb the creation of earth and mankind we are awe struck by God's creativity. Divine revelation was designed to leave these lasting impressions upon our minds. The impressions, whether horrific, powerful, or beautiful leave an imprint upon our minds that cannot be taken away by man or Satan. These imprints produce lasting faith, conviction, stamina, and hope while we live in this world.

Moulton's Analytical Greek Lexicon defines our conscience as man's impression of reality (see page 391). It is these impressions that bring man to either condemnation or justification. The apostle Paul wrote, "(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them;)” (Romans 2:14-15). God leaves lasting impressions upon man's mind through both the things we see in this world and the divine things that we read in our Bible. True reality is developed in the minds of those who read, understand, and obey. Said individuals know that the Lord Jesus Christ will one day, in the future, come to judge the world according to their deeds. Time will only tell what you do with the impressions God has made upon your mind. Will we be so impressed that we obey the gospel and remain faithful all the days of our lives? Or shall we be as the foolish who permit the things of greatest value in life slip through our fingers? True reality or delusion in sin, which will it be with you?