Right Remembering vs. Yearning for "The Good Old Days"

Years ago, after a major household move, I wrote several poems, which were all forward-looking rather than chock full of reminiscences. This year, as I have been making photo albums as gifts, I have enjoyed thinking about the years since those photos were taken, not just getting caught up in remembering when the events took place.

Why is this important?

Ecclesiastes 7:10 states, "Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' It is not from wisdom that you ask about this."

Reminiscing is one thing, but yearning for the "good old days" is something clearly forbidden by this verse.

What is the difference? Let's consider several of the psalms as well as looking at Lamentations 3:22-24.

In Psalms 42 and 43, the psalmist is distressed and yet encourages himself by remembering and anticipating in Psalm 42, verses 5 and 11. And again in Psalm 43, verse 5, we have this refrain: "Why are you in despair, O my soul, and why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

In Psalms 77 and 78, Asaph encourages first himself and then the nation to recall the deeds of the Lord, remember His wonders, and meditate on both His words and deeds--history experienced.

In Psalms 106 and 107, the nation is encouraged to remember God's deliverances, and Psalm 107 ends with this: "Who is wise? Let him give heed to these thing, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

In Lamentations 3:20-24, Jeremiah poignantly states: "Surely my soul remembers, and is bowed down within me. This I call to mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"

We need to remember the goodness of the Lord instead of yearning for the "good old days" and having such nostalgia drag us down. His lovingkindnesses never cease and His compassions never fail.

All the Nations of the Earth

All the nations of the earth
Shall either be blessed or cursed
According to their response to
God's promise to Abraham in
Genesis 12:1-4:
"Now the LORD said to Abram,
'Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.'"

Some from every nation shall be
Redeemed, per Galatians 3:13-14:
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--
for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE'--
in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles,
so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
Because of the gracious mercy of God
Proved in the sacrifice of His Son,
Jesus the Christ,
All the nations of the earth
Shall be represented in
His bride and family,
For all eternity.
Psalm 22:27-28: "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations"; Revelation 5:9-10: "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'"

Reposting a Renewed Perspective on Suffering

In his first letter, Peter writes: "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:10-11; NASB).

What was going on when Peter penned these words? Believers were being persecuted and were in need of encouragement. Suffering is a recurring theme in this letter. And the Lord inspired Peter to write these words not only to to sustain the first recipients of this letter, but generations following, including us.

Let's look at the opening:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Before Peter takes us to the matter of suffering, he directs our thoughts heavenward, to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, His great mercy, a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our reserved inheritance, our protection by the power of God through faith for a sure salvation.

Contemplating these great truths should guard our hearts and minds for what comes next.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7).

"Even though now for a little while, if necessary"--we so often do not see the necessity of our trials, but God does.

Peter's words remind me of what James wrote: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Short-sighted, we don't realize the benefits of our God-designed trials, even when these are spelled out for us in passages such as the ones we're considering.

Who doesn't want more spiritual endurance? It's primarily trials that produce that.

Who doesn't want to hear well done from the Lord? Successfully handling testing will result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This is what we need to remember and embrace: "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:10-11; NASB).

Our suffering is, in the perspective of eternity, just for a little while. Christ's own will be perfected, confirmed, strengthened and established by the God of all grace Himself.

And we respond with Peter: "To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."