Devotions ... History in perspective

Every so often, we review where we have come from and where we are going – an historical review of our lives.  My 90-year-old mother-in-law passed last August and left me the family pictures to sort and share.  I have been working on digitizing them so every child’s family can have a copy of them all instead of only one or two.  I have held pictures and letters in my hands that were over 100 years old.  This portion of our family has a rich history!
Days of ’49 is an historical reflection of how things got started around here. Greybull First Baptist was built in 1906 and has had many renovations over time.  It’s been well over 100 years.  We have a short history of the church book written by Melba Davis which celebrates the longevity of believers which came together in that place.  My husband’s grandfather, Oliver Reed preached a revival at Greybull First Baptist in 1928.  Rev. Floyd Ellison was ordained there and went on to pastor Basin First Baptist where he finished his life as pastor emeritus before going on to minister to the needs of those in the nursing home where he himself passed his final days.  Many of those in the nursing home were ones he had served throughout their lives.
The most substantial history is found among the stories of the Bible, the Holy Scriptures.  They give us insight into how things began and foretell how things will end.  We are told if we don’t remember and study history, we’re doomed to repeat it.  This is especially true in the spiritual realm.  While some people hope to erase history by tearing down statues representing the challenges of the past and how we got here, others study the scriptures looking for ways to overcome the errors of the past and how to remedy them.
Jesus spoke to the pharisees of his time because they were very studious in the scriptures.  He encouraged them to look at the scriptures from a different point of view. (John 5:39) He enhanced the understanding of history by looking at the Ten Commandments in another way:  You have heard it said of old time, “Thou shalt not murder, but I tell you if you look at someone with hatred in your heart you’re already walking down the road of murder.  You have heard it said of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery, but I am telling you if you look at someone with lust in your heart, you are already headed down that road. (Matthew 5:21 – 48 Cathy’s paraphrase)
It can be hard to make corrections once we initiate trajectory.  The sooner we can make the correction the more likely we will hit our target.  Ask any scientist working on space project how a small miscalculation can change a spaceship’s terminus like Mars.  A meteor or space debris can knock it completely out of orbit or trajectory.  The same is true in our lives, with unexpected events like loss of job, new baby, or illness.  We should spend time honing our spiritual trajectory as we do our physical one.  In the physical realm, just ask anyone who loves fast food if working off the pounds is as easy as putting them on.
John 5:39 (KJV): “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jesus).”
(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)