The Good Old Days?

The reality of what the church is as opposed to what it has become, has been disappointing. Watching the wrong things is the cause of trying to find other ways to keep abreast of God's Word; but then, as we all do, the recollection of the scriptures force some changes to be made as we continue walking out this journey the best way we know how.

How many times have we spoke the wrong things not realizing it is opposing the Word of God? But because it is the trend and most people say it, there can't be anything wrong with that? Right? This has been written in this blog before for us all to watch the words we speak because its like seed sown into ground about to reap a harvest that you can rejoice over or grieve about it later. For instance, if you'd like friends, to count yourself as being friendly (Proverbs 18:24 KJV). This is simple to incorporate in your everyday lives. Yet it would seem there are those that believe without effort, things should just happen. Life should be good because...it just should be. But when it doesn't happen the way one would think, making no effort on his/her part, we tend to reminisce about the simpler time when there was respect, consideration, happiness, responsibility, and accountability. Ah, the good old days!(Ecclesiastes 7:10 AMP)

For over 12 years I was employed in a senior community where the ethnicities were diverse enough to experience the wealth of information the collective of over 150 citizens had from their travels, their relationships, the struggles they have had over the years, and the oppression many of them overcame to be where they are now. I saw how their families were attentive to their needs or not and how that sort of attention or the lack thereof affected them. When it was their time to release all of that wealth of information, they didn't. Not to anyone that I know of. They were friendly enough just not forthcoming with any information that could quite possibly make if easier for anyone else.

It was baffling as to why an elderly person wouldn't want to make their knowledge known. It

was bordering on just being mean. But then it reminded me of a teacher replying to a question a student had in a high school chemistry class. The teacher said, "ah honey, I got mine, you better get yours the best way you know how." What kind of way was the student supposed to be getting it? She is in class. Isn't that what she is doing by asking the teacher the question? What is the problem? Why would a teacher not find it necessary to answer a student's question - to do her job? When did the shift happen from the good days to back in the day when it was good?

Well let's sieve through it in the "burden is easy and yoke is light" way. Remember when you were a child (1 Corinthians 13:11 AMP). There was nothing you really had to do but to eat your veggies, obey your parents, and just have some fun...everyday all day. For the most part eating your veggies and obeying your parents almost seemed like a game too. As you became older you learned that eating your vegetables were good for you. It strengthened your immune system and kept you from all sorts of illnesses. Obeying your parents were the building blocks of having respect for others as well as for your self. You learned about family values and frowned at those that didn't. Obeying your parents assisted you in being responsible and accountable. Doing those little simple things aided you in the next steps in your journey to being a viable and successful adult.

So, it would have also been in your best interest for you to be raised up in the admonition of the Lord because we know that man cannot live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 AMP). When this happens, then the verse of raising a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he will not depart from it, makes more sense (Proverbs 22:6 AMP). Using the bible as a manual for life assists in every aspect and in every question man has. Why does he think that the bible contradicts itself? Because he wasn't raised in the admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4 AMP). Because he never took the time to meditate on the Word day and night (Joshua 1:8 AMP). If he had, he would understand that with each book there is growth. Even Paul said, would that you could be more like me but then when he understood and became more mature in Christ, he said, would that you could be more like me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1-3 AMP).  

There is a reason God tells us not to look at the old days as if they are better than the days you are living in the present. You were created for such a time as this (in the present). God has described you (us) as being the light of the world and salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16 AMP). It is known to be good because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. This means what makes it better now than it was then is you knowing, understanding, and being in Christ. This could not have been done while you were a child ignorant in the things of Him, immature in chewing the meat of the Word, and inexperienced in wielding the sword of truth. 

These days being more than a conqueror is the only way you can enjoy all that He has in store for you. He wishes above all things that you be in health and prosper even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2 KJV). How then can those old days be better when the old has past away and behold all things become anew (2 Corinthians 54:17 AMP)?