I once spent some time talking to a cousin of mine about our ancestors and where they came from. It is a subject that I have always found fascinating, and he was a wealth of information. He has spent a lot of time researching our family history and I was glad to be able to hear from him some of what he had learned. For as long as I can remember, I have harbored a love for Ireland and Scotland, and I was delighted to learn that some of our ancestors had originally come from Scotland.
While I may not be so great at remembering dates and numbers, I have always loved history. What I mean is that I love the story of where we came from. I love to learn about the history, the stories of the past. As I have shared before, I spent many hours sitting on a little red stool near my grandfather listening to him tell me stories of the past. I loved listening to him talk about days long past and I truly believe this is where my love for a good story began.
The cousin that shared with me some of the family history he has learned, bears a strong resemblance to my grandfather. As I listened to him talk, I couldn’t help but think of my granddaddy that he looks so much like a younger version of. I think my granddaddy would be happy to know that our family history was being remembered. You know; I think that is what it is all about… remembering. I think when we remember where we’ve come from, we can learn the lessons from the past.
There are a great many lessons to be learned from the past. I personally believe it is important that we learn from the past so that we do not repeat the same mistakes. “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you” Deut. 32:7. This is but one of the many verses in Scriptures that remind us of the importance of not only remembering the past but also learning from it.
I haven’t always done so well at this, but the older I have gotten, the more I appreciate the lessons the past has to offer those willing to learn from it. How much better would it be if we would learn from the mistakes of others and not have to go through them ourselves in order to learn the lesson. The Lord Himself warned the Israelites of the importance of learning from the past and not repeating the mistakes their ancestors had made (Zech. 1:4; 1 Cor. 10:6-11).
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” Romans 15:4. The past has a lot to teach those willing to learn from it, my friend. I’m sure if you look back over your own past you will find a great many lessons you have learned along the way. I don’t know about you, but I certainly have a few “lessons” that I have no desire to ever repeat.
I am learning to pray a short but very important prayer that I will share with you, my friend. “Lord, please help me to learn the lesson You are trying to teach me.” I do not want to have to keep circling around the mountain like the Hebrews did so many years ago after leaving Egypt. I want to learn the lesson and move forward, not keep going in circles. This is another important thing to remember as well, dear heart. Look back to learn the lesson but keep moving forward.
Don’t get stuck in the past. The past is there for us to learn from. It can teach us about where we came from and help us figure out what we may need to change in order to get to where we are going. Learn the lesson but don’t linger in the past. Your future is forward, beloved, keep walking on. Keep pressing on towards all that God has in store for you. Learn from the past, pay attention to the lessons it teaches, and hold them close in your heart so they can guide you forward.
If you are a believer, a follower of Christ, there is another great source from which you can learn great lessons from the past. Dear heart, your Bible is the greatest source you own that can teach you the lessons you need to live a successful Christian life. There is such beautiful history written within its pages. There is so much that you can learn from the saints of old whose stories are told in this precious Book. In Hebrews chapter eleven, Paul gives a detailed list of some of these heroes of the faith.
I bet he never dreamed that he would be such an important part of the story himself one day. My friend, if you want to learn lessons that will change your life and help you to walk into the future in a way that is pleasing to God, get in His Word. The greatest story ever told is written within the pages of your Bible. It is my favorite story, one that I hope I never ever get tired of learning more about. I pray that I am always fascinated with this Story.
C. S. Lewis said, “History is a story written by the finger of God.” Perhaps this is why I have always been so fascinated by it. History is His story. Like most things in life, history usually has its own share of ups and downs and for many of us, looking back is not always a pleasant thing. If you are one of those people, may I remind you of something? He isn’t through writing your story. Your story isn’t over yet, beloved, and trust me; He writes the most beautiful stories.
Whatever your past looks like, your future is bright indeed. Can I promise you that it will be easy? No, of course not. But I can promise you that He will be with you every step of the way, dear heart. And I can also promise you this. One day, when this chapter of your story draws to a close, He will be there to welcome you home. The book will close on this part of your story and the next chapter, the best chapter of all, will begin, and it will be better than anything you could imagine, my friend.
Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we almost take. The gray rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf? See What?
Gandalf: White shores and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: Well, that isn’t so bad.
Gandalf: No. No, it isn’t.
- The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5
Katrina Douglas
