Chicago: "Old Days"

This band, formerly The Chicago Transit Authority, had many hits in the old days. This is one of many they had in the seventies. Hear it here.

We do tend to remember the past fondly. Even the folks mentioned in Holy Scripture did. Nevertheless, tragedies imprint themselves in people's minds.

One example of mourning the past happened when the second temple in Jerusalem was founded. Ezra 3:12 and 13 Bible in Basic English) reads, "But a number of the priests and Levites and the heads of families, old men who had seen the first house, when the base of this house was put down before their eyes, were overcome with weeping; and a number were crying out with joy: So that in the ears of the people the cry of joy was mixed with the sound of weeping; for the cries of the people were loud and came to the ears of those who were a long way off."

We also know that things went poorly for Israel from time to time. Judges 6:13 (BBE) shows how people felt during one time of oppression. "Then Gideon said to him, (an angel) 'O my lord, if the Lord is with us why has all this come on us? And where are all his works of power, of which our fathers have given us word, saying, "Did not the Lord take us out of Egypt?" But now he has given us up, handing us over to the power of Midian.'"

The psalms are filled with remembrances of the glories of the past. Psalm 22:4 and 5 (BBE) says, "Our fathers had faith in you: they had faith and you were their saviour. They sent up their cry to you and were made free: they put their faith in you and were not put to shame."

Even though Israel was often unfaithful, God kept his side of his covenants. Micah 7:20 (BBE) says, "You will make clear your good faith to Jacob and your mercy to Abraham, as you gave your oath to our fathers from times long past."

Living in the past can come back to bite a person, as Jesus showed in Matthew 23:30 and 31 (BBE). "'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.' So that you are witnesses against yourselves that you are the sons of those who put the prophets to death."

If Christ doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about sinful imaginations.