Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … History.
Sadly I admit, history was not my favorite subject in school. I did well in the subject to maintain grades. Having a good memory, events and facts have stuck with me.
However, as the years have passed and I have grown older, my interest in history has only increased.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
(George Santayana)
In recent years, the quote has been shared quite often as world events unfold. Yet this morning, upon seeing the word prompt, something else came to mind:
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12, NASB)
Here Paul warns us to learn and remember from Scripture, from the history of what occurred in the people of God.
These stories, and events, have been written for us to learn from so that we do not fall into the same pitfalls as they did.
“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, NASB)
It is wise for us to remember,
so that we remain faithful and steadfast.
For therein, lies our hope.
I also have noticed my that my interest in history increases as the years go by. Maybe it is also that our brains have had a longer time to remember the past more than the recent present. 🙂 When I think about the scripture you shared it reminds me how God designed us perfectly, so we will remember the past for “our instruction.”
It is so important to try and remember, you are right. Love your Biblical insight.
The book that I am currently reading reinforces learning from the Bible accounts of people that have gone before us. Richard Foster’s book, Life with God, has wisdom and encouragement.
I’m one of those strange people that has always enjoyed history. LOL I like how you connected the well-known Santayana quote to Paul’s assertion that the Bible’s history is recorded for us to learn from. Well done. Visiting from FMF#10
Love the Scripture references. I can appreciate history a lot more now than I used to.
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. History was not one of my favorite subjects in school either.
it’s good for us to know our history isn’t it? it’s a huge help, particularly in our Christian lives, to living out our faith. FMF11