IT'S HISTORY

Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday,
today
and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

Looking back, one of the joys of my life was the privilege of teaching both World and American History in a Christians school in Virginia. We had been home educating at the time. Brian was transferred to that locale and in the church we joined, I was asked to take a teaching position in it's school. The second year there, I taught both history classes in the high school. I found the students at first doubtful about getting into the subject as it sounded boring but I tried to make it as interesting in various ways to make their time well spent.

In the process of preparing for these classes and in getting the teaching of History in my own mind, I felt getting my own self prepared as much as possible. One of the main things I came to grip with was what History really is. In preparing bulletin boards and the whole ilk that is expected of teaching preparation, I recall the final thing I did on one wall of the classroom. I purchased somewhat large cut out letters and on one wall, I positioned those letters where they stayed for the entire year. The sentence was simple but true as could/can be. It read:

HISTORY IS HIS-STORY!

Did you catch what that statement says and what it means? Some of us have very protective feelings about our history and heritage from Columbus discovering our country, the establishing of our Constitution, victories in war, survival of various kinds, etc. I don't know what to think of adults, some in government who are willing to sell us down some liberal river historically.

Let me explain something. Something happened that first week of creation other than the things we think of. One of the most meaningful things that happened was the beginning of history. History is measured by time. Our human history began that week with the establishment of light and dark, day and night...time itself. We measure history by time/days. With every day from then to now has been history, our history as we look at it from a human standpoint. However, it was God who created it all and from that first day until right now, history is God's story...His-story.

That history has moved in a very wide ranging way from the garden of Eden. Still, we have extended from that first couple as has everyone. All has occurred from then to now under the careful watching of God Himself. Civilizations grew and spread...still God's story remain His. It's a story, a people He hasn't always liked and at times had to punish and yet, a people from wherever He has still dearly loved...loved to the point of sending His Son to die for mostly ungrateful citizens of the then earth.

We often think of Jesus in terms of coming to earth as a baby. We read of His ministry and His ultimate sacrifice for mankind. We rejoice with His resurrection and so look forward to seeing Him again either through death or through His second coming. However, a quick look at Genesis 1, we see Jesus an active part in the creation of all things that first week. Jesus didn't just pop up on Christmas. He's been at the core of history from the very beginning of the earth as we know it. His history goes back into eternity...a term we can't begin to comprehend.

Even today, Jesus watches a people He loves desecrating those things precious to Him...people He died for. I think He grieves with every Christian that is martyred, church that is burned or spray painted with evil words, historical persons in books or in some form spit upon or destroyed. As much as I look back at my own appreciation of the history of my country and family, God is grieved as we are at the ingratitude and evil doings of evil people we are seeing in our day. Remember that in what we are seeing, many of the protesters are paid by big name people with wealth beyond our imaginations who hate our country as it is. They are paying for all of this to be done. Despite the evil, God sees and God knows in His time how to deal with it all.

I rest in the fact that history is all God's story, past and present. I know just a small part of it. I also rest in the fact that God knows how to take care of every situation in our day as He has done in days past. We claim a belief in the sovereignty of God. It's time we believe that fact. So what now?

First, we must never lose sight of the fact that as individuals, we are a part of this great historic story. People may never remember me years from now, but God allowed my footprint to exist on this earth and I have made my contribution as only God sees. We must make our time count. Next, we must pray like never before. Prayer moves things, gets things done beyond our scope of view. Every evil person we see functioning as has been seen lately needs us to pray for them. We can't throw up our hands and give it all up. When we entertain such an attitude, Satan laughs.

Father we sometimes feel our worry and concerns about present circumstances can change things in our circumstances or our world in general. Help us to boldly take all these things to You knowing You have a plan and will work that plan for Your glory. Use us as You see fit, but only for Your glory. In Jesus' precious name...Amen