By Pastor Anthony L. Scott
“Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to the things of old.
Look, I am about to do something new, even now it is coming.
Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:18-19 (CSB)
The philosopher George Santyana is credited with the statement, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There is still a lot of truth in his prediction. Many if not most of the problems we face today, in our lives, world, and even in the church stem from the fact that so many have no sense of history on any level. We act as if nothing significant happened until we arrived on the world stage. It’s a good thing to look back and be encouraged by past joys and successes while at the same time learning from past mistakes and failures.
Unfortunately, many people go farther than merely remembering the past, they live in the past. Far too many have a morbid habit of being past dwellers. So, what is God telling us to do through the prophet Isaiah? Speaking through the prophet, He is saying forget all the old and dead things that clutter up our minds. The clutter and clamor of old things distracts our attention from the new thing. While the past has benefits to be claimed, the past can also cripple us. Here we find God promising His people redemption, deliverance and something new but they are so captivated and enslaved by the past it becomes a hindrance to forward movement.
For our future to have a future, here are some guiding principles to keep in mind. We must be aware of the Daily Grind of Familiar Things. The daily grind of life can become paralyzing to future progress. If we are not careful, life and ministry can become mundane. In the routine of our daily activities we can begin to take certain things for granted and lose vision for the future. We must also be aware of the Dissatisfied Groan of Former Things. Sometimes we are called to look back and remember as God tells to do in Isaiah 46:9, but often in doing this we forget the best is yet to come as expressed in Jeremiah 29:11.
Reverend Matthew Henry writes, “Though former mercies must not be forgotten, fresh mercies must in a special manner be improved.” This is precisely what Jeremiah is reminded of in Lamentations 3:23. Dr. Vance Havener asks, “How many of us live looking back or ahead, between a holy past and a holier future but in a hollow present.” While one sighs for the good ole days, others long for a better day ahead.
The wonderful and final principle to be aware of is the Delightful Grace Concerning Future Things. Isaac Watts penned these words years ago, O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. On this journey with God there is an air of expectancy coupled with an anticipation of a brighter future. Our hope in God gives us a confident expectation of a favorable outcome.
A businessman told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and scattered trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said, “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building, I want the site.” Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as futile as the seller. When we become God’s, the old life is over, He makes all things new. All He wants is the site, your life, and He will begin to build!
