DON'T ROMANTiCISE THE PAST TOO MUCH

 

“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” (Numbers 11:4-6)

"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this." (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

 After the children of Israel escaped Egypt, many complainers insisted on romanticizing the past even though they had freedom, plenty of free food, plenty of clean water, no diseases, and their clothes did not wear out. There is a good lesson there about the folly of romanticizing the past too much; the so-called "good ole days" and "simpler times" were not always good, and while they were different, they were not simpler. Yes, there were good values and good traditions that should be preserved, but in every generation, there have been wrongs, injustices, and corruption. 

There seem to always be people romanticising the past, especially when this supports their theories or agendas. Many often insist on romanticising the past because of a belief that world conditions must continually go from bad to worse because they believe Satan rules the Earth; Satan rules in the hearts of unbelievers, the wicked world system, but God is the present ruler of the Earth and ultimately controls everything, and nothing in Scripture indicates that God ever abdicated his throne or turned his throne over to Satan. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12) Many apply prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D., that were fulfilled in the first century and apply these to modern times to prove that everything must go from bad to worse and feel compelled to romanticise the past. Prophecy preachers and theorists often romanticise the past and predict a world where demonised and satanic people hold public offices after the rapture, but this has been a characteristic of the world for thousands of years (consider Matthew 4:8-10).

Christians are obliged to occupy till Christ returns. (Luke 19:11-13) Salt cleanses, purifies, preserves, and makes people thirsty, and light dispels darkness and exposes that which was hidden in darkness; government corruption and social maladies are signs of a lack or decline in Christian influence or an increase in exposure of corruption. (Matthew 5:13-16) But whenever anyone reminds Christians that they have a duty to impact society and culture for righteousness there are usually professed Christians insisting that Christians should not do that or be concerned about that because there is no time to accomplish anything or because this would contradict their pet theories and speculations about things they do not and cannot know. It is often difficult to convince modern Christians that God is not obligated to submit to any schedule they have set for Him.