Remember The Duck
There was once a little boy named Johnny visiting his grandparent’s farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods and he practiced and practiced, but could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he aimed, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to realize his sister was watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch that day Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But to her surprise Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today… didn’t you, Johnny?” And then she whispered to him, “Remember, the duck?” So, Johnny did the dishes. Later, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper.” But Sally smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” And she whispered again, “Remember, the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed in the kitchen.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. And I’ve just been wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you.”
— Author Unknown
How about you? Are you a slave to memories in your past? Does Satan whisper in your ear, “Remember the duck?” In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul tells us about his experience which he labels “a thorn in the flesh.” No one knows what this was for sure, but many believe it was the haunting memories of his past. Before Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, he was a ruthless killer who sent many Christians to their deaths.
Paul’s haunting memory of murder and torture could have ruined his ministry, but instead, Paul had to fall into the arms of forgiveness. In our opening illustration, Johnny had to believe that his grandmother would forgive him or he would have remained a slave to his sister, and his guilty conscience. If you are struggling with your past, you have no greater example than Apostle Paul. He tells us in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
So when Satan whispers in your ear, “Remember the duck”, take him to the place where you fell into God’s outstretched arms of forgiveness. If you are no longer a slave to Satan, then why are you a slave to his torments? Satan’s goal is for you to live a defeated life because of the past. But this is not…and I repeat…not Satan’s decision! The decision is your’s my friend! You must believe in the fact that God truly forgets your sin! He doesn’t forget out of a weak mind…He deliberately chooses not to remember them anymore.
Isaiah 43:25 tells us: “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
As a child of God, you have a choice to either, “remember the forgiveness” or “remember the duck.” Which will you choose?