Nothing New under the Sun

While watching the news recently, the person being interviewed said, “We have never experienced days like these. The current state of the world is unprecedented.”

For a split second, I bought into that statement as truth. We are living in strange times. It sounded like truth except, friends, that is not truth. Nothing happening around us is new.

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 1, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” In Solomon’s assessment of the broken world around him, he quickly concluded that sin is sin no matter the generation we are living. But by the opposite praiseworthy token, salvation is salvation no matter the generation in which we are living.

While 2020 might have us feeling as if we have reached new depths of darkness, let’s not be so self-absorbed to not give recognition to those who have gone before us. Generations before have served God faithfully and courageously by working hard and raising families in the midst of unrest and uncertainty. We will, too! We are not the one generation in history who will not see God’s goodness and deliverance. We simply are not that special! His faithfulness to His children is an absolute guarantee no matter the generation. Joyful perseverance is what we are called to whether in comfort or discomfort. We persevere in the power of Jesus Christ and there is no limit to the joy that overflows into the broken world around us.

Don’t lose heart, sister. Jesus has overcome the world in every single generation. You can, and will, overcome in the one in which God has placed you.

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18

Jesus, nothing in all of creation is new to you. Help us remember your sovereignty and that you delight in helping us persevere in the times in which we live. In Jesus name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Mysti Chustz has been following Jesus since she was six years old.
• She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Her most favorite roles are being wife to Philip and mama to Coleman, Mary Lamar, and Clay.
• If one verse was used to describe her life, it would be Philippians 1:6. “Be confident of this, the One who starts the work in you is faithful to complete the work in you.”