The Good Old Days

  

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.

 

Each generation grows up with memories of their specific day and age experiences and (in most cases) looks back on their early years as “the good old days”. Yet, in my early years comfort-zone and stages of life, though there were wonderful friends and adventures, there was war, crime, crooked politics, drugs and immorality around to worry about. This appears to be true for all generations, yet it seems that the world is in a huge mess today. Though created creatures of God with a spirit, us mere mortal beings tend to focus on the material “here and now”. 

 

Jesus said in Matthew 6:27-34 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

The 1913 Webster’s Dictionary defines worry as: A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death; To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; or A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety. When our Creator finished creation on the Sixth day, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. The time that our original parents spend in the Garden of Edan were the true “Good old Day’, because sin ushered in everything to worry about that there is, as the Fall of Man brought death, disease, decay, lack and natural disasters. We seek peace, safety, security and contentment living in a fallen world, but do we seek God in the process? 

 

Romans 8:20-23 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

 

For the born-again Believer, who repents of their sin and receives Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, “Good Old Days” are the eternal perspective and the Fruit of the Spirit experienced now, despite the distractions, depravity and disillusions surround them on this side of Heaven. Galatians 5:24-25 proclaims, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

 

Remember what the Lord Jesus told us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” These are not the "Good Old Days", but don’t worry, be happy – praise God, because of Jesus, the best days are yet to come! 

 

In Christ, Brian