Your Memories Will Be Richer

Having a glorified brain in a glorified body also means we’ll have better memories in heaven. I once heard of a man who said, “I have a photographic memory; I just forgot to load the film.” How often we all feel that way!

Most of us have forgotten a lot of our life experiences. How many of us could name all our schoolteachers and classmates or recall what we were doing thirty years ago? We remember events that deeply inscribe themselves on our brains, but not all the specifics of daily life.

A few individuals can. They have HSAM—Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. They can remember what happened on practically every day of their lives since childhood. There are reportedly less than one hundred people currently alive with this condition. I can’t speculate as to whether we’ll all have enhanced memories like that in heaven, but if our minds are glorified, our memory capacities will be heightened. I think we’ll find it much easier to memorize long passages of Scripture, for example, not to mention be much better at matching names with faces.

But what about memories of our lives on earth? Perhaps we’ll have total recall of everything that happened to us, but I’m not concerned about it. I do believe we’ll remember those important occasions that shaped our lives.

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, Abraham told the rich man who was suffering in Hades, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things” (verse 25). This indicates people in hell can remember their lives on earth. It’s sensible to believe those in heaven can do the same. The martyrs in Revelation 6:10 remembered they had been murdered for their faith on earth, and they were eagerly waiting for God to avenge them.

Revelation 15:3 talks about the heavenly population singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. That seems to imply we’ll remember the songs Moses wrote on earth, such as Psalm 90.

Jesus will reward His followers at the Bema Judgment for faithful service on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). It would be strange if we didn’t remember what we’re being rewarded for.

I look forward, Lord, to the day my memories will be clear, vivid, and joyous when I walk with you in heaven. Amen.