Rhythms Of History

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We live in a time that often feels unprecedented. We feel overwhelmed by what's going on in our country and often feel like we have nowhere to look for answers, encouragement, or insight to how all this will play out. However, we do have things we can look to and learn from. Some for an honest diagnosis of where we are. Others for hope in the future. As christians we have a book full of promises to cling to.  

The first place we can look at is history. We can look back to times before us and see where we are in the life cycle of a people and nation. We can look at great empires of the past and see what culture was like during the best of times and then during the worst of times. Anyone can do this. The follower of Christ and the avid atheist who rejects all types of spirituality. We can all learn from history the same. We only have to be honest about where we are, the symptoms of the deadly disease we are experiencing, and listen to the diagnosis given by the doctor known as history. Unfortunately, history does repeat itself. As one author said “History repeats itself because nobody listens the first time.” and because we are a prideful people we like to think it will be different this time. 

Scripture makes it clear that humanity throughout the ages has dealt with the same problem and lived in the same life cycle. Communion//covenant with God, blessing from God, neglecting of the covenant by the people, judgment, renewing of the covenant with God. Today we are living under the start of the judgment of God on our nation and its people. As a nation, from the highest seat down, we are a people in opposition to God. And while the obvious sin is often seen and blamed, those who claim Christ often neglect him in many less obvious ways that have greatly contributed to where we are today; men not leading their families//churches, the things of God becoming optional, love of possessions//things, unaddressed sexual sin, etc.

 

God tells his people, by the prophet Jeremiah, that they have committed two evils. 

 

Jeremiah 2:13 “for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

    

We have done the same, and it’s not a recent event. The forsaking of God started generations ago. The first obvious fruits of which were seen in the sexual revolution of the 60’s. As any good cook knows, the longer stew simmers on low heat the stronger the flavors will be. Our country's forsaking of God has been simmering for the last 70 years allowing for a strong stew of sexual sin that seems to have come from nowhere. The chef decided to serve what he had been cooking recently and it doesn't taste as good as some thought it would, but it's not a surprise to those who watched what was being added. We got a taste of what was added at different times over the years. We got a taste in the 60’s with the “sexual revolution” and in the 70’s the cook let us taste a little with the legalization of abortion. However; the stew of idolatry wasn't ready. In the 80’s and 90’s we got to taste how living beyond your means, extended out of lessons, and degradation of the family was flavored and we liked it from a government perspective and individual perspective. Then in the 2000’s until now the chef added a strong indulgence of sexual ingredients and started pushing for gay unions, heterosexual promiscuity, and more. The soup is being served and it tastes awful, but it's the soup we ordered as a nation. It's the kind of meal that leaves you sick and dehydrated after we’ve eat our share.Yet we wonder why we are still hungry, not full even though we took part in the dinner. 

We're looking for water in broken cisterns. They’ll never hold water and they’ll never quench our appetite. They’ll only make us more sick and that's where we are heading. Sin makes the body sepsis and it slowly kills itself, the community, the nation. 

Our country is in a state of sepsis right now. The only way forward in alignment with God is through true life changing repentance and following of Christ. Not singing songs that make us feel good, not emotional responses, but repenting of our sins because we realize the deadly state we are in, and following Christ in a way that leaves our old life behind. 

 

    History repeats itself or as Mark Twain said “History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” We must hear the rhyming and understand what's coming. What happened in the last few lines will happen again. The Lord again tells us what to do in Jeremiah. 

 

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

 

May we not be like the ancient people of Jeremiah's day refusing to walk in the way of God. But may we look to the past, see a God who is merciful and gracious to forgive, put our trust in Christ - in his life, death, and resurrection, - and walk in the ancient paths and find the rest for our souls we all long for. 

 

In the craziness of life we must toe the line knowing we serve the king over all. He is undefeated, unphased, and ruling from his throne. God is always faithful and true to his promises. As followers of Christ and servants of The King, we hold to the hope that is in Christ, his kingdom, and his glory! 

 

As things around us make less and less sense we must remember that we are the only ones that have a foundation to stand on. May we build our life on the rock as we watch that which is built on the sand rise and fall around us. The foundation of sand always fails. Buildings may rise but they will never last. Kingdoms will rise but they will never last. Political agendas, ideas, and theories will rise, but they will never last. The Rock will stand. 

 

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

    

 

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