Years ago, in my reading on Robert E. Lee, I came across a comment of his which, sadly, I didn’t note in my “quotes” file and am presently too lazy to thumb through my shelf of Lee’s biographies wherein he commented in his philosophy of history.
He remarked, as I recall, that one’s philosophy of history could be likened to the incoming tide. That is, at any moment when one looks at a particular wave, it might be advancing or retreating, yet the position of that particular wave does not describe the state of the tide.
The tide is still advancing, i.e. incoming!
The tide is not “in” til the last wave has made its advance to the furthest reach, and begins the long recession til the next advance.
At that moment, I thought, this is a terrific analogy of the advance of the kingdom of God.
Recently, given our nation’s current financial fiasco, thanks, but no thanks to our inept and interfering governmental elites; I caught myself looking at the "position of the wave”! The look tended toward discouragement.
Then, this morning, in my devotions and while reading through the HCSB One Year Bible, the author of the devotional readings, Selwyn Hughes, made a comment which reminded me of Lee’s observation. Hughes said, “…don’t focus on the wave, but on your assurance the tide is advancing..!”
I needed that reminder!
Listening to the current crop of “system baptized” political candidates only engenders, within me, disgust and dismay. As I reflect on the past umpteen years, I have seen the fruit of these “ostensible” saviors. I am less free and more chained that I was 70 years ago!
These supposed saviors have used the constitution to “chain” me rather than them!
Still, the “tide” is advancing.
The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of The Lord as the waters cover the sea!
Obviously, not in my lifetime!
I live in an era where the wave is receding, yet the tide is still advancing!
My focus is to be on the author and controlling of history, His word, and not on the momentary circumstance.
I stand rebuked, and repentant! Praise the Lord!
1 comment:
Yes, go digging through your books... ;)
"My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them, or indisposed me to serve them; nor in spite of failures, which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge; or of the present aspect of affairs; do I despair of the future. The truth is this: The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope."
~Letter to Lt. Col. Charles Marshall (September 1870)
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