The Paper January 2011

It Is 2011 - The Past Is History!
There is always a lot of emphasis on having a vision for your future, and making a plan setting out where you want to be. In doing so, people often forget the importance of the past. They say “the past is history”, and they have no interest in history, and do not want to think about it. People say “History is boring!” Yes the past has gone, but the past has also planted a lot of seeds which will continue to grow into the future. As well as being able to learn from the way things happened in the past, it is important to recognise that events of the past can potentially have a big impact on the present, and on the future. The past is History, and History has shaped the present and will continue to influence the future. We should not dwell on events of the past, but be prepared to learn the lessons which these events can teach us. It is a bit like driving a car – we need to keep an eye in the rear vision mirror to assess any potential impact of what is behind us!
The turn of the Year is often seen as an interface between the past and the future – a time at which we contemplate our progress through life. When reviewing the present we need to take into account both the past and the future – remembering that the present is where they meet. We can go back in history to seek to understand why things in the World are like they are, and in our own lives, at a personal level, we can also go back to the past to try to understand the influences that have brought us to where we are. We can learn lessons from the past to help us understand the present and to help best plan for the future. With some people this self-assessment is done consciously, but with others it may happen automatically.
The Good Book recommends that we should adopt a positive attitude in life, and suggests that we should not say “the former days were better than these”. (Ecclesiastes 7:10). We should not dwell in the past, but should always be looking for the positives as we go forward. We do need to be able to accept the past as having provided the stepping stones that got us to where we are, but we should live in the present, and enjoy the benefits as life progresses.
The Bible presents a high level outline of the past – relating historical events that have had an impact on shaping our present World – and also gives a broad outline for the future, ultimately predicting the establishment of a New World order. In between are guidelines for us on how to enjoy life in the present. There is an inward peace in being able to view our own circumstances within the context of this broader Plan. We must live in the present and plan for the future, but don’t forget the past.
Christians believe that there have been key events in history which have had an impact on what is happening now, and on what will happen in the future. Specifically we believe that there was a major event in history some 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ came to this Earth, and was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. We cannot explain why, but we believe that through this event of history, Jesus shedding His blood on the Cross, the whole of creation can be made right with its Creator. The Bible says that “God was in Christ, reconciling the World to Himself”. (2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 19) It might sound strange, and be hard to believe, but the events are well supported by historical evidence. This is one event in history of which we believe all should be aware, and we believe that understanding and accepting it can have a significant impact on our lives today and into the future.
We would like to invite you to attend our Church sometime or alternatively to attend one of the Churches in your local Community, to talk about the impact that these events of the past can have now and into the future. Please see Church Notices for dates and times.
Rodney Gray – Pastor Christian Israelite Church, 196 Campbell Street, Sydney (www.cichurch.com)