Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Introduction
What has gotten into this world? Things never used to be this bad. I’m sure glad I don’t have to raise kids today. The world used to be so much better. Questions and statements like these are common on personal levels, organizational levels, even on political levels. They represent what becomes a strong pull towards the past, and that pull, that force, is called…nostalgia. Remember the good ole days when the world hadn’t lost its mind? When it was safe to raise your kids? When everything was better?
Now I don’t care about your age, everyone is nostalgic. It’s not just Boomers looking back at “the good ole days when there was no interwebs or ticky tock.” No one is too young to be nostalgic. I was at Camp Christian this week and heard someone voice a thinly veiled disappointment that the Lodge no longer had the old furniture that used to be on the porch when they were on staff. Or trick or treating this weekend—I saw one kid dressed up as Bert from Bert and Ernie—but sporting a full beard. And I know many a Gen Xer’s who will see a Denny’s restaurant and immediately time-warp back to all those times they would have pancakes and coffee with friends at two in the morning—while talking about all the fun we had in the 80’s.
We are nostalgic about childhood, school, college, our days as talented athletes. We are nostalgic about art, music, television, movies, food, books, relationships. We are sometimes even nostalgic about church and worship and even pastors. We all have parts of our lives we look back on that we long to relive again, see again, experience again—times in life we want to return to. And why? Because life was easier in those days; more enjoyable; everyone knew everyone; we were happy and content and safe and secure—we all got along. So if we could just go back “there”, go back to that “way”, life would be better again, the world would be better again, everything would be better again.
And maybe that’s true… but to these statements, God says, “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” That’s a rather interesting statement, don’t you think? It’s unwise to long for the better days of the past? Why?
Move 1
“Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.”
So there is an obvious answer to that question and there is a less obvious answer. The more obvious answer is because when we do we are forgetting, or even ignoring, the bad of the past, and we are overlooking the good of the present. The idea that the past was better than the present simply isn’t true. Sure, there was definitely good that happened in the past—no one is debating such. But there were a lot of struggles and hardships of the past too. War. Diseases like Aids. Political scandals. Gruesome struggles for Civil Rights. Just to name a few.
But sure, the past didn’t have worries like we do here in the present. For example, in the past no one ever thought, “You know, someday my computer might just rise up and join with all computers and machines everywhere and take over the world while systematically eliminating humankind.” (When Skynet becomes real, you can be certain I’ll be saying that prediction was made in the 80’s!) But we’ve seen and benefitted from achievements prior generations could not have even dreamed of— progress in areas like healthcare and technology. Life expectancy has dramatically increased, and quality of life has largely increased. Communication has become easier— even if you don’t near your friends and family, we can talk with them and “see” them—even on a daily basis if we want.
And yet, as we age, we still wish we could return to the past. Those “good ole days” were simpler times for us because we knew where we were; who loved us; where we belonged. They were not only simpler times, they were easier times, purer times; personally fulfilling times. But the warning of Ecclesiastes must still ring in our heads and hearts. “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.”
If we believe in some way a return to the past will fix our problems, we are at best over sentimentalizing the past. But at worst, we are keeping ourselves ignorant of previous evils; while also not being as grateful as we could be for the good that currently surrounds us in the present.
Now, I am not saying the past was bad—I love the 80’s as much as the next Gen Xer. The past may have been better in some respects. But let’s be clear, the good ole days were not good in every respect. And so that is the obvious answer to why it’s not from wisdom that we want to go backwards.
Move 2
There is a less obvious answer we need to consider. And that is this… When we become overly nostalgic, we inevitably deny and miss God’s presence in the present. When we become overly nostalgic, we inevitably deny and miss God’s presence in the present.
Yes, there are some really hard and ugly pieces of the world today we are having to deal with—personally, organizationally, politically, and so on. You may be going through some incredibly difficult experiences. Or maybe you have to watch a loved one go through the unthinkable. Or maybe you just watch the news—and so naturally you long for the days of old. It’s not wrong. It’s not sinful. But if nostalgia takes hold of you to such a degree that you can no longer be fully present in the present; and you’re often full of anger or disgust or hate… Or you are always annoyed or tired because you’re afraid what’s coming in the future can’t possibly be as good as what has already been… Or you’re spending all your energy trying to re-create the past… that is when nostalgia suffocates the good God is doing in the present.
This is why we are told, “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” Because if we are not careful, nostalgia will suck all the air out of our souls. It will stall us and keep us from all God has in store for us.
Move 3
“Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” When we go deeper into this text, we learn only a fool thinks what they are longing for is actually what they are longing for. The thing from the past we say, “If I could just go back to that”, is not actually what we desire.
Author David Gibson explains it better when he says, “When we are longing for the past, we may think we’re longing for what was better, but the past was never as good as our mind is telling us it was. The longing that is actually pulling on your heartstrings is the future. It’s a sense of home and belonging, a desire for ease and love, and security. All that we wanted in the past is still all that we want today, and it is that longing that cracks the surface of our life. And if even for a moment it is a glimpse of heaven.”
That longing we feel… that longing we think is our desire to go back, is actually our spirit telling us what we were made for more. The nostalgia of our past reminds us we once got a glimpse of heaven, in the past, and that is why it was meaningful. But that glimpse of heaven is never meant to turn us backwards. That glimpse of heaven is actually meant to point us forward. Which means then, we have to ask ourselves… When we have our moments of nostalgia, what are they doing for us? What are they doing to us? Are they causing us to lament and regret what was, but will never be again? Or are they inspiring us to move forward with energy and enthusiasm for what can be—for the newness God is surely bringing? Is our nostalgia holding us back and blinding us to God’s presence today? Or is our nostalgia a means of striving for the future God promises—a future of hope and welfare, a future where God’s way really is “on earth as it is in heaven”?
Remembering the past is great. It brings joy for sure. But too often nostalgia slows us down and stops up our heart, when it should speed us forward, and strengthen the spirit within us to seek out, and share, the good God is doing today.
Conclusion
Remembering the good ole days can be comforting and fun. Bu we have to ask ourselves, when we are pining for the past, is our nostalgia making us afraid of the future? Is our nostalgia making us believe God is no longer in control? Do we think God no longer sees what’s happening? Do we believe God no longer has good purposes in store for us and for the world?
To long so fervently for the previous days leaves us constantly asking, “Why were the former days better than these?” or we say, “Here we go again! The world is all going to hell!” and we write off everyone and everything as unredeemable. And when we do such, we are denying God’s sovereignty and God’s providence. We are denying God’s power over the present circumstances and God’s ability to provide for us what we need to navigate today’s difficulties and even thrive within them.
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Today we conclude our Consecration Campaign—Devoted to Generosity. And I have to admit, in some ways this campaign slogan seems a bit silly to me because I know all of you are devoted to generosity. And so please know I am not questioning your generosity, nor am I trying to say you need to be more devoted to generosity.
But in light of what the world looks like today, we need to be guided by our text for today, because when it comes to being the generous people we are, we cannot let anything other than God’s presence today, and God’s vision for the future, guide our generosity—or any other part of our life because if we don’t then what good ole days we will, and others, have to look back on in the future? Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, October 29, 2023
Gracious God, we live in a scary world—not because of the tricks or treats season we are in, but because of the conditions around us—where poverty and oppression haunt many; where vengeance and violence are a constant specter; where fear abounds because that which frightens us is real. We are caught in a real-life horror movie, and we often slip into the disbelief that it will never end well. So we pray…
When our hearts ache for the victims of war and oppression, remind us you healed people simply by touching them. Give us faith in our ability to comfort and heal bodies and minds and spirits that have been broken by fear and violence.
When the injustice of this world seems too much for us to handle, remind us you fed thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Give us hope that what we have to offer will turn into abundance, too.
When fear of the power and opinions of others tempts us to not speak up for the least among us, remind us you dared to turn over the tables of money changers. Give us the courage to risk following you without counting the cost.
When we feel ourselves fill with anger at those who are violent and oppressive, remind us you prayed for those who killed you. Give us compassion for our enemies, too.
When we tell ourselves we have given all we can to bring peace to this world, remind us of your sacrifice and remind us that the impossible is made possible when we lose a little more of ourselves in serving you and our neighbors.
Walk with us, Lord, as we answer your call to be devoted to generosity. Increase our ability to embrace the past as a way to see into the future—the future you are always leading us toward. Give us the courage, the strength, the willingness, the faithful devotion to you that is needed in a world that needs your followers to believe you, and your love will win.
We ask for you to hear now the prayers we have to offer from our hearts to yours in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of Christ Jesus, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…