Nothing New Under the Sun
Sometimes we can get lost in the struggles of today that we have to stop and remind ourselves ...
' What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.' - Ecclesiastes 1:9
Today we seem to be in a society where ears are stopped and eyes are covered when someone doesn't want to hear something or see something that is before them ... the idea of relative truth ... the progressive movement of 'tolerance' marketed by a bumper sticker, that is simply intolerance in disguise from another point of view.
Oh the world we live it today ... !
Yet ... is this really any different? Is this a new thing? Sit with this quote ...
"The ears of our generation have been made so delicate by the senseless multitude of flatterers that, as soon as we perceive that anything of ours is not approved of, we cry out that we are being bitterly assailed."
A modern quote of our times perhaps? Is this trending on Facebook with the hashtag #offended? Or perhaps a quote from the 16th century by a man named Martin Luther ... ?
It is the latter ...
What if we go back farther, to the apostle Paul writing to Timothy ...
'For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ' - 2 Timothy 4:3
A prophecy of the future, or a warning of the days? I think if we go back even farther we get our answer ...
' For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord ; who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions,' - Isaiah 30:9-10
"Just tell me what I want to hear!", the people say ... sound familiar? It should, because there is nothing new under the sun ...
How does this knowledge help us? Help me?
I think it simply allows me to take a pause from my frustrations in the world, rely on the Truth that is Christ Jesus, and not feel like Elijah thinking "I'm the only one left LORD!"
This ... all of this we see, and hear ... this is what sin looks like ... this is what rebellion against God looks like ... this is what a life apart from Him looks like ... it always has been, it is now, and it will always be until He comes and makes things right ...
It's the world we live in ... but it's also the world we were given as our mission field.
Expect resistance ... expect to be attacked ... but in Love, let us keep marching His Truth forward ...
... oh ... but you know what? Between Isaiah and today, there actually is something new under the sun ... something new that Isaiah could only dream of ... we live in the Resurrection! We live in the days of the Messiah! We are an Easter people all year long! So live like it, and in the words of Rick Barry, our middle school pastor:
"Are you living your life with a Risen Savior? Or are you living your life and dealing with things while your Savior is still stuck in the grave?" - Rick BarryWhat you choose to believe or not believe doesn't change God ... but it sure will change you ...
Perspective ... Truth ... Believe it ...
His,
~Matt
Comments