Introduction:
Solomon reminds us that there are 4 dimensions of time that should be important to us: past, present, future and eternity. The time dimensions that should be most important to Christians are the present and eternity. Nevertheless, there is a message here for us about the past.
In Ecclesiastes we see that Solomon is talking about determinism. By the way, these ideas are goad passages and not nail passages. This is not the philosophy of the Bible. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV.
David through the Holy Spirit had a different view of the past. “If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Psalms 37:23-25, NIV. For David God was a God who was there, working in his life. At times God’s will was not recognized, but in reflection he saw that God’s purpose was evident even if he did not recognized it at the time.
For most of us, the past has neither been bad nor good. Rather, it has been a mixture of experiences but most have served to teach us something. Now, we do not look at the past like a textbook. Our past transcends simple knowledge and experiences. Most of the time we yearn for, rather than learn from, the past.
Think about our teenage years. Those were times of hopes, dreams and new experiences (at least as we remember them). We were living a full life and the future looked so promising, everything was new and exciting. Though sometimes we complain of the antics, weird ideas and dreams, styles and tastes among modern day teenagers, I am sure our parents and elders thought the same of us when we were teens.
If we go back even further, to some of our childhood days, there might be some painful memories, but for the most part our childhood represents security, if not comfort and pleasure. Can we remember how enjoyable it was to play in our rooms on a rainy day with one of our best friends? Maybe we can remember a collection of stuffed animals and toys that were always there when we returned from school. Even if a playground was not within easy reach, we often would play ball until dark, at which times our moms would call us home for dinner.
Is the past is as secure and carefree as we remember it? Certainly not! When we look back, we obviously do not see things as they actually were. This poor memory not only paralyzes us in the present, but it prevents us from learning from the past.
Why does the past look so secure and carefree? “And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.” Ezra 3:11, 12, NIV.
This new temple was not as glamorous as the old this is true. But Israel was coming back from captivity and what many of them were longing for was coming true, they were back in the Promised Land and the temple was up and running. Why the weeping?
As children these Israelites had seen the temple in its former glory. This was at least 70 years earlier. Children remember what they want and have an incredible ability to block out the unpleasant. We don’t remember the fears and anxieties that we had back then. Our ability to forget what we don’t want to remember persists for many even into adulthood.
For some, the “good” in the good old days was a time of security, but not necessarily a time of growth. Paul was a secure Jew, “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” Philippians 3:5, 6, NIV. The crisis in Paul’s life on the road to Damascus was quite a change to his predictable life prior to this event. Yet crises provide points for growth, and Paul became the great apostle he was because he faced this crisis,. Problems, stress, and occasionally tragedy are necessary for us to grow beyond the secure yet immature boundaries of our childhood.
I remember growing up on a farm, surrounded by friends and family, and then we moved to the city when I was 13. Talk about giving up security. Came to faith in the Lord.
Sometimes we look back when we fear our time is running out. If the future seems short, the past is a more pleasant place to dwell even if it really wasn’t that pleasant. “They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?”” Exodus 14:11, 12, NIV.
In times of crisis, tragedy, or excessive stress, we may look back because we feel as if God has abandoned us. Job, when he suffering trials and grief, yearned for the good old days when he walked comfortably with the Lord. ““How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness! Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,” Job 29:2-4, NIV. Each of us will come to a point sometime in our lives when it appears that God has abandoned us. The past looks so much better.
Should the Christian look back? Of course! We need to remember our past to be effective in the present, to understand our own personal history.
Thesis: As Christians, how should we view our pasts?
For instances:
We need to look back on our lives as a spiritual adventure full of peaks, valleys
“We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” Acts 26:14, NIV.
Highs are baptisms, lows are things like being fired. Kick against these and we only hurt ourselves. “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:9-11, NIV.
The past is a schoolmaster
More often than not, we learn from our failures, not our successes. Peter denied Christ 3 times and then the rooster crowed.
A short time later, Jesus taught him a great lesson. Peter, the impetuous one, learned his lesson of humility as he received his charge of service. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17, NIV.
If we do not look back at our personal history, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes we have made throughout our lives.
3. As we look back, we must not become lost in our pasts
Jacob refused to be comforted when he was told of the death of his son Joseph. “All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” Genesis 37:35
Sometimes we want to deny that time moves on. We look back, refusing to see that God has given us yet another day with new opportunities. When we stop to reflex upon the past, we must also listen for the sounds around us to remind us that life goes on and that work needs to be done. “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24, NIV.
4. As we look back we must avoid attempts to recreate our pasts.
“Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”” Matthew 9:17, NIV.
The Jews had a problem in going from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Most never did make the change.
Think about the changes that have come about in the church. Yes, some for the good and some for the bad. What are some good changes?
5. If our past it to benefit us, we must gain strength from it to meet the present.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12 of the thorn that was given to him in the flesh. He asked God to remove it 3 times, but God said, ““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV.
Paul remembered a truth and leaves that truth for us. There is some eternity in the past, not just fond memories. Christ was there just as He is with us now. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Matthew 28:20, NIV.
Conclusion and Invitation:
I WOULDN'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY NOW
by: Charles Goodman and Jimmie Davis
CHORUS:
I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now,
I've got to make it to Heaven somehow.
Though the devil tempts and tries to turn me around.
He's offered everything that's got a name
All the wealth I want and worldly fame,
But if I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.
1. I started out traveling for the Lord many years ago,
I've had a lot of heartaches, had a lot of troubles and woes.
Oh, when I would stumble, then I would humble down.
I'd say, "Thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now."
CHORUS:
2. There's nothing in this world that can ever take the place of God's Love,
Silver and gold could never buy His love from above.
When my soul needs healing and I begin feeling His power,
I can say, "Thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.
CHORUS:
