Good morning: There has been a disturbing trend in recent years to ignore, erase, or rewrite the past. Statues and monuments, books, and even people from the past are “canceled” because they are judged to be irrelevant, unimportant, or even harmful to people of the present time. But without knowing and remembering the past, we can’t really understand the present or plan for the future. Without knowing the history of our nation’s founding, we won’t appreciate the purpose of our country’s institutions of government. Without hearing about our family history, we won’t see how the lives of grandparents and other ancestors have affected who we are and where we are. The past is essential to remember, especially when it is the past revealed to us in God’s Word. To ignore, erase, or rewrite what God tells us is to miss out on His gifts for the present and to forfeit an eternal future with Him. In the record of the past is the key to understanding the troubles and suffering of the present. “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Why don’t things always go well in our lives? Because we were conceived and born in sin too. The present reality is rooted in the past. However, the past is also the key to our present hope, for God did not abandon the world to suffer eternal death in hell. He sent His Son to be our substitute and Savior. Sadly, many see Jesus as irrelevant to the modern world and His death as an unremarkable footnote in history. Yet nothing is more important to know, remember, and to trust in. By His death on the cross Jesus paid our unpayable debt before the holy God. He snatched us from certain condemnation and gave us new life and purpose. By faith we know where we stand with God. We are justified, declared not guilty. We know why we are here. We are to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We know what the future holds. “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). Let’s begin today by remembering the past, the history of God’s love for an undeserving world and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which gives us reason to live today and look forward to tomorrow. Yours in Christ, Pastor Sunday services are at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated. Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible class meets at 9:30 a.m. We will continue our study of how God has given and preserved His Word for us. We will look at the role of ancient manuscripts and how translations have come about. Everyone is welcome.
