Nothing New

 These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.     “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description.  No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied.  No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 (New Living Translation)

Missy and I wonder what the author of Ecclesiastes would say if he were alive today. Would he rephrase some of the lines of his famous thoughts? 

Let’s say he was to visit us here in 2021, do you think he would repeat the words: “There is absolutely nothing new under the sun”?  Wouldn’t he find technology jaw dropping? What about the expediency available in public transportation and travel? What about cloning of animals? Splitting of neutrons?   Communicating with someone thousands of miles away instantaneously? And who can forget that we know longer use sundials (other than decorative yard objects) but rather computers on our wrists? Crazy.   

As we wake up each morning and either read about, listen to or watch the news it can be overwhelming. Most of it is repetitive information. However, there is also breaking news. Updated news. New news. Truthfully, though, is it really new?

We are not sure if you have seen it yet, and part of us doesn’t really want you to, but there is a video which shows a US plane taking off from Kabul, Afghanistan.  Hundreds of Afghans were filmed desperately chasing after and some even clinging to a US Air Force plane as it taxied down the runway. Sad enough? Indeed. But, as you continue to watch the plane ascending into the air you become witness to a horrible moment when multiple people plunge to their deaths...people who had climbed ONTO the plane in a frantic attempt to flee their homes after the Taliban takeover. Horrific.

Amidst the shut-downs, violent reactions over masks, harsh words and opinions about vaccinations, crippling economic instability, murder hornets, out of control wild fires, PTA meetings becoming wrestling events, and family and friends being sick and alone, now we add the hellish onslaught of the Taliban...we must remember there is nothing new about any of this. A simple look back at history reveals this has been going on since the banishment from Eden. Furthermore, it is all part of the plan of the enemy who wishes to divide, destroy and decimate God’s people...God’s creation.

There are alot of Christians who feel that times are now worse than ever and only getting more horrible with each passing day. Some even claim apocalyptic language in describing what we are going through in this world, at this time. But, the truth of the matter is that since the human debacle in Eden, there is nothing new under the sun.

We wish there was a magic pill we could all take and “Voila!”---everything would be as good as new. We wish there was a leader we could look to in order to make all the right decisions all the time and in every situation. We wish there was a bible verse we could just pick out - splash it all over social media, preach on it, keep quoting it, and God would wake us up tomorrow and all would be well...all would be new.

We who follow Jesus - who call ourselves Christians - are not to be looking backwards. Remember the words of Jesus in Revelation 21? “Behold, I make all things new.” The One who was in the beginning and through whom all things were made is going to make all things new again. Then, and only then, will the words of Ecclesiastes be longer viable. 

But do not allow that to bog you down, bring you down, or knock you down. This letter is not meant to do that - it is meant to encourage and remind each and every one of us that none of this is new...to God. He has seen it before, dealt with it before and overcome it before. 

Let us leave you with this gentle reminder from Peter - who at one point of his life was probably lower than any other human on the planet: “But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight,” (II Peter 3:13 and 14). 

Sisters and brothers: “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” 

Steve and Missy