Have you forgotten?

Isn't it amazing to what extent we are creatures of habit? The human species has not changed much in the past 6000 years.
In the old testament, we read of the ups and downs of the Israelites and how they "stiffed their necks" toward God and would go years without doing the sacrifices and rituals of the priests. Eventually, the temple was destroyed and they were taken into captivity.
In Ezra 6:3-5 "In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house: And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God."
They returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, the house of God. They were turning back to God. Did they remember how to build the temple? Did they have to dig up the plans? It was supposed to be built in a particular way. Once the temple was rebuilt, did they remember how the sacrifices were supposed to be done? There were a lot of details in the worshipping of God in the old testament. Many generations would had passed by now, they would have to relearn what they fathers had practiced for many years.
What a waste.
Because of the inconsistancy of the children of God, the priest would have to relearn or even learn for the first time how to make the sacrifices, how to pass from one section of the temple to another. Maybe they even had to sew up new garments for the priests. So much time and energy used up just to get back on track.
The same thing happens with us. When we stop working for the Lord, praying and serving others, worshipping God and living right, we forget how to do those things. Our heart gets hardened and, coming back to God is difficult. Why do we bother straying to begin with?
Have you ever had a big disagreement with someone, then you finaly restore that relationship but at first you feel awkward and things aren't as comfortable and sweet as before. That is also true with our relationship with God. When we stray then come back to God, at first, it's not a sweet as it used to be. It's not because of God, but because of our memory of the transgression we did against Him. Why do we even allow ourselves to grow cold?
Some of us might be saved but never had that sweetness in our relationship with God. Have we forgotten what we learnt of what hell is like? Maybe we have forgotten what our life was like before He saved us. Do you remember the emptiness, the void you had in your heart? Do you remember feeling like there was no purpose to life. No reason to be in a life of consant rejection, pain, suffering and feeling helpless? How about when you learnt of a God who loved you so much He sent His son to be born poor, constantly on the run from people who wanted Him dead. Growing up misunderstood then becoming a man to be loved by many for the sole reason that they can get something from Him whether is was being healed themselves or their family member being raised from the dead, having their sins forgiven, their hope restored and their intellect stroked. He battled faced to face with satan while he had not eaten for days. Then the most amazing part, He allowed the very men and women He created, to deliver Him to those who seeked to kill Him. The government then beat and tortured Him to the point where you couldn't even recognize Him. As weak as He was, they made Him carry the wooden beam that would hold the nails that pierced His hands, to the hill where He would later shout to the Father "Why hast thou forsaken me?" God would turn His back on the filthiness of our sins that filled the soul of Jesus. It doesn't end there! He then went to hell for us, but he didn't stay, He then built the new covenant, the way of forgiveness of sins through Him, not the sacrifice of animals or the law. He ascended into heaven which for the saved will be our home someday.
Have we forgotten all that? It's time we learn and/or relearn what Jesus did for us just in the point of salvation, then it's time for us to remember what He's done for us since. We can't say that He's never been there for us, never answered prayer, never comforted us, guided us and protected us.
It's time to rebuild God's temple, our body, getting back to the worship of Him and Him alone, to prayer, service and drawing people to Him so they can have the opportunity to have what we have, eternal life, freedom from bondage and a friend who loves like none other can.
Lest we not forget.