Learn From History

      I have always thoroughly enjoyed history.  It has always captivated my mind.  As a young girl, I would often daydream of traveling back in time to experience what it would have been like for me to live in a certain time period or event.

     Nowadays, as I educate my children, I am relishing the moments wherein we delve into history; not so much the "whats," but the "whys."  Sure, the facts (dates, names, etc.) are important, but even more important are the things that led up to them occurring in the first place.  Not only do we get a better understanding of the people and cultures, but we also have opportunity to gain wisdom to either avoid pitfalls, or follow the right footsteps.

     What about the parts of history that belong to us?  Oh, how we love to laud ourselves!  Whether in false humility or open pride, we never mind it when our past achievements and good deeds go announced.  Yet, when our failures and sins are brought to memory (from whomever for whatever reason), we are not as comfortable.

     No one likes being the bad guy.  No one likes failing.  We know that the winners write the history books, for a reason.  

     How can we learn, though, if only studying the successes?  Even the Lord insured that in the Bible, the many sins, failures, and defeats of countries and individuals would be faithfully, securely recorded; not just the "good times."  Why?  "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:  and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Corinthians 10:11

     It serves no one well to change history.  We ought to see it as it rightly is:  the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Not so that we can shame others, but to learn.  The book of Proverbs is another good place to look, that educates us on the good and the bad.

     Now, to my own, personal history...I used to try to avoid thinking about quite a bit of it, as I have much for which to be ashamed.  Yet, the memories are there:  both in my mind, and others.

     However, I have been learning to embrace it all.  I do not relish in my sinful past, but rather accept it as part of me.  I made those choices.  I committed those wrongs.  I own them, along with the consequences.  I also seek to receive the lessons that my history can teach me.

     Do I wish that I would have hearkened to sound wisdom?  Certainly!  Do I, with great sorrow, regret being a poor testimony for the Lord?  More than words can say!  Do I wish that I never would have hurt folks by the wrongs I have done?  Absolutely!  Do I cringe when I recall, or am reminded, of mistakes, sins, and the like?  Most definitely!

     How often I daydream of what it would be like if I were to time travel, and be a mentor/guide to my younger self!  All those errors, erased!  All those missteps, mistakes, and sins, averted!  Yet, it is but a dream.  Dreaming of fixing my past will not help me today.

     My past can help me navigate today and tomorrow, though!  Not only can it help myself, but they can be pillars of remembrance for my children, and for any who care to learn from my errors so that they can avoid pitfalls.  Most of all, my past reminds me, and can testify to others, of the marvelous grace of our loving Lord.

     He, in spite of my failures, has been faithful.  He knew, from the moment I came to Him for salvation, that I would fail much in my life.  I did not know how often I would fall on my face, be deceived, err, disobey, rebel...shame His name.  

     In spite of me, He still saved me.  Why?  He promised to save any and all who would come to Him.  He is the faithful One.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

     So, though my history causes me to hang my head in shame, more often than I share, it also causes me to look up to Christ.  He is inextricably woven into it.  I can see His loving care throughout my shame--allowing me to go only so far, but also allowing me to experience the sting of sin.  I can see His correction in my life, to bring me to repentance.  I look back and see how He never forsook me, but was ready and waiting for me to come to my senses and quit with the foolishness.  I can look back and see that every time I repented, He helped me get out of the ditch and back onto the path.  I can look back and see Him.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"  Hebrews 12:5-7

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore, and repent."  Revelation 3:19

     History has a reputation of being repeated.  However, knowing and learning from history can allow us to make the right decisions.  Whitewashed history does us no favors.  We can learn from observing failures and wrongdoings just as much, if not more than, as we can observing triumphs and righteous acts, (Read I Corinthians 10; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 5:3).  Let us learn from our own errors, and that of others, so as to avoid them in the future.