NOTHING NEW

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has already been, in the ages before us. The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.”

Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919) wrote, “With all the powers it possesses, humanity strives forward. People want to be progressive, so they toss aside old conditions and create new ones. Such is our present time. There are people who wish to change everything. A totally different social order must be introduced, they say; and to that end they give themselves, body and soul. They nurture great hopes: “If we can change everything, then the social situation will improve, and people will know the purpose for which they exist.

But even supposing they accomplish the change they are after, what happens then? When today’s conditions have been removed, what then? Will a different set of laws help us? Dethrone kings and dukes, dismiss governors; give people freedom to do as they please—many nations have tried that “solution.” Yet human society has not become happier. Therefore we cannot participate in this movement for human progress. Rather, our progress must be this: More of God, more of the Lord Jesus, the only king, more of the Holy Spirit; always more government from that source!”

“The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!” Jesus