Edmund Burke, an
eighteenth century British statesman and one who is viewed as the philosophical
founder of modern political conservatism, once wrote words that have found
their way into the conscious of many. He
stated that, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” In the same vein of thought, he wrote in the political
pamphlet, Reflections on the Revolution
in France, ″A spirit of innovation is generally the
result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to
posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.″
The perspective
expressed in Burke’s statement does not find its beginning with the man, for
this concept can be seen long before him.
Early in the book of Joshua an event is described. God had brought the Israelites to the edge of
the Promise Land. As the nation was
encamped on the banks of an overflowing Jordan River, God gave the nation a
directive. At the direction of Joshua, the
priests bearing the ark came to the edge of the water. As they stepped forward, the waters parted allowing
the priest and the people to cross over on dry land. After crossing, the Lord instructed Joshua to
have a representative from each tribe to choose a stone from the river and with
them a monument was built. These stones were to be a memorial and a reminder to
future generations that the people of Israel crossed the Jordan because of God
and not because of their own ability.
As believers in
Christ, Christians should look ahead with great expectancy. Yet, the hope of future success will be built,
to a degree, on the triumphs of the past.
Let each one look to the movement of God in the past… let us remember
how he has moved in our individual lives… and let us look expectantly to what
is to tome. As churches, let us each understand
the past and allow it spur us forward. Let
us not live in the past nor look to return to the “good old days.” On the other hand let us not try to change
everything, looking only to the future. Both views cause us to take our view
off of God and look to a fantasy of our own creation. Let each one of us and each body of believers
look to the truth found in Joshua that the hope of the future… the hope of the
past… and the hope of the present is found only in God!