Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, July 8, 2023
Strolling through a used-book store last Sunday, I came across this tilted sign at the entrance of what must have been the history section. The “new arrivals” are evidently recently-acquired tomes on these topics.
But what made me get out my smartphone and snap this photo was the following thought: Actually, both history and war themselves are recent “arrivals” in the history of the universe.
Looked at through the lens provided by the Bible account, there seems not to have been war before the “war in heaven” mentioned in Revelation 12. But when Satan and his angels were sent tumbling down from celestial heights, they brought war with them, and turned loose its hellish devastation on earth.
And history? Could that be a recent arrival too? Maybe so. Why? The books you see in the photo above were written to preserve a particular author’s “truth” about this or that historical era. Readers will die, and so will the author, but new readers can pick up the book and consider and revive its ideas. After all, as someone said, “Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it.”
Another reason history might be a recent arrival: God designed angels and humans to live forever. Angels most likely don’t need to read human history books, because they have experienced the events themselves, and have gained insights no human historian ever could.
The day will come when Jesus will return, and will usher those who’ve longed for His appearing into eternal life. When we get there, we will of course be able to write history books if we want, but we needn’t write them against the deadline of our death, hoping to preserve wisdom beyond our existence. Instead, they’ll be books giving gratitude to our Maker and Redeemer.
Want to read two Bible verses about history? Check out this link: