Forgiven and forgotten

For the former troubles will be forgotten
and hidden from my sight.

For I will create new heavens and a new earth;
the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:16-17)

Somehow, whenever I’ve read verses 16-17, I’ve always thought about how when we see God face to face in the new heavens and new earth, we will forget all our former troubles, all our sins and mistakes.

I still think we’ll forget all those things.

But I don’t think that’s what God’s saying. He said, “the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from MY sight.”

And so when he says the past events will not be remembered or come to mind, I think he’s saying, “They will not come to MY mind.”

How much trouble have we brought into this world since Adam and Eve first sinned? How much have we grieved God’s heart?

That’s what we see in this chapter. God recounts all the sin and rebellion of his people, and how much they have grieved him over the years.

And yet, God says, “I will make all things new. And on that day, all your sins, all the times you’ve grieved my heart will be forgotten and hidden from my sight. They will not be remembered or come to my mind.”

All our sins forgiven and forgotten because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

That’s amazing grace!