NOSTALGIA!

NOSTALGIA!

Ezra 3:11-13

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord ; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord , because the foundation of the house of the Lord  was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

When life is difficult and we are impatient for change, it is easy to long for "the good old days" when things were better. When the foundation was laid for the second temple, the old men wept for "the good old days" and the young men sang because the work had begun. It has been said that "the good old days" are the combination of a bad memory and a good imagination, and often this is true. (from The Bible Exposition Commentary:  by Warren W. Wiersbe.)

A dear friend sent me a note that said: “Things have gone so far wrong do you think we will live long enough to see our young people turn it around and head back to "self-respect" with a true love of God and country?  I want to go back to a time, I think, similar to Father Knows Best, Happy Days, and maybe even Lucy.  It was a time where individuals were concerned about morals, self-value, pride in themselves and love for one another.” The Bible answer to this nostalgic musing is found in Paul’s warning to young Timothy.

2 Tim 3:12-14

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

          One cannot live the Christian life on behalf of an entire culture. Christianity is an individual – a whosoever – relationship. Paul’s warning was that, in spite of all of Timothy’s efforts, the gradual decline of morals and values would continue at a most frustrating pace. Nevertheless, Timothy was to “continue” in the path he was going. The Greek word for “continue” is meno and means “to stay in a given place.” The uncomfortable contrast in the way you are living and the way the rest of the world is living is NOT an indication that you are wrong.

          Merriam-Webster defines nostalgia as: “a wistful yearning for something past or irrecoverable; homesickness.” It is that homesickness for a place we have yet to visit that keeps us marching on.

Dear Lord, the deep longing of my heart for a return to a better time is actually a homesickness for heaven. Thank you for the promise of a better place by and by. AMEN