4/8 Strength for Today

The Most Neglected Teacher

2 Peter 2:6
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

The one thing that we can learn from history is that we never learn from history. The greatest teacher that any of us has is history. History has no agenda to set. History is not politically correct. History is sometimes ugly to look at, but history is the greatest teacher of mankind.

Though history is the greatest teacher, it is probably the most neglected teacher. For some reason people think they will never succumb to what those in history have done. If we are wise, we will let history teach us what to do and what not to do.

In the verse above, God said that Sodom and Gomorrah was an example to teach us not to live their wicked lifestyle. The destruction of these two cities should teach us today that God will judge a society if He needs to. Likewise, the destruction of these two cities should teach us that God will not always put up with our foolish and wicked lifestyles. Let me give you a few statements concerning history.

First of all, learn to be a student of history. Don't get so busy with the current affairs of your life that you forget to study history. Don't forsake the study of history because you think it is boring. Don't forsake the study of history because you don't think that it is relevant to your current situation. Any person would be wise to become a student of history, so they can learn from it.

Secondly, don't try to change history's lessons. One of the agendas of liberals is to change history so it fits what they want to do. I have watched this in the political world as well as the spiritual world. Liberals in the school and political world have tried to change history to fit the agenda they want to push. This is wrong! Likewise, I have watched modern day “fundamental” preachers try to change the history of fundamentalism for the sake of pushing their agenda. Whether or not these preachers purposefully do this, we should be careful about falling to this trap, as it will only hurt us.

Thirdly, don't think you are the exception to what history has taught you. One of the greatest mistakes people make is they think they will not do what those in history have done. One of the reasons for this is pride. We sometimes think we are smarter than those in history and therefore will not fall as they did. As history teaches us, if we will follow the pathway of those who were successful in history then we will be successful. If we follow the pathway of those who failed in history, then we will experience failure as well.

Let history be your teacher. Don't forsake or change it, but learn from it. Don't let it be said about you that you never learned from history. Make history's lessons important and follow their teachings, in so doing you will find success in your life.