Jesus, Remember Me

So Robert Pattinson has traded in Bella and his body shimmer for a shot at a non-supernatural romance called "Remember Me". This was probably a major challenge for Pattinson as he must transition from a brooding and semi-sulking character in love with Bella to a brooding and semi-sulking character in love with Ally.

Word on the street is that if "Remember Me" is playing at a theater near you, it’s probably a good time to consider moving. No, it’s not Pattinson’s fault...and I’m sure Team Edward would be content just to watch him floss his fangless teeth and work that Zoolander Blue Steel look of eyebrows and cheekbones.

"Remember Me" is a film about love embedded in the midst of dysfunctional families, tragedies, and ultimately the need to appreciate each day of life we are given. A worthy message, to be sure, but be warned that the *surprise* ending could be one of the most shameless acts of audience manipulation I have ever seen.

Seriously, the directors of this film should be locked in a clown decorated room and forced to watch 27 episodes of The Wiggles non-stop for this one.

Rather ironic, I think, that a film called "Remember Me" has a plot line that screams out ‘Pullleease forget me!’

By the way, how do you want to be remembered? I guess another way to phrase this question is:

What do you want on your tombstone?

This is an issue that most people don’t think through too well, and at the end of their lives there is regret and disappointment because all they have to show for their existence is a history of trivial pursuits and soon to be forgotten accomplishments.

That was definitely the case with a man we only know as ‘a criminal,’ but check out how he changed it all with the words “remember me”:

Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed Jesus to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified-one on his right and one on his left. One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself-and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise”(Luke 23:32-33;39-43).

Here’s a person who led a life of crime, and now he is being crucified right beside Jesus. At that moment, he realizes that even though he has wasted the gift of life he was given, he can change the condition of his eternal life with three simple words,
“Jesus, remember me…”

That ‘criminal’ is now in heaven, but I bet he big time wishes that he had asked Jesus to remember him much earlier in life, because it would have radically changed his journey.

Have you asked Jesus to remember you? Not just when you die, but how about each and every day?

Jesus, remember me when I face the struggles and stresses of life.

Jesus, remember me when I feel like You’re not there.

Jesus, remember me when the guilt of my past haunts me like a relentless ghost.

Lane Palmer serves as a writer for Dare 2 Share Ministries (D2S) in Arvada, Colorado, a ministry committed to energizing and equipping teenagers to know, live, share and own their faith in Jesus. For more information about D2S, please visit www.dare2share.org.