June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

As I write this, the porch, the deck furniture, the tires on our cars---EVERYTHING---is covered with Cicada husks and every day we hear the whir of the males singing to attract females---a musical serenade assuring us that (if the Lord tarries) these bugs will be back in 2038.

As I remembered the husk and whir-filled cicada visit of May, 2004, I got to thinking about how history repeats itself, I wondered what, if any, OTHER parallels there might be between 2004 and 2021.

It turns out there are a lot:

• On May 1, 2004 at the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby, a horse named “Smarty Jones” won, smashing wagering records and taking over newspaper headlines. This year’s winner, “Medina Spirit,” is in the news because of a failed post-race drug test. May racehorses in the news---same…same.
  
  
• On May 1, 2004, Giants outfielder Barry Bonds set a record for being intentionally walked four times in a game. Not too long ago there was an article about intentional walks ruining baseball---so nothing new there either.
  
  
• On May 6, 2004 the TV sitcom Friends aired the finale of the long-running series. These days there is a lot of hoopla about doing a Friends reunion show. So, TV land still focuses on Central Perk.
  
  
• On May 14, 2004 the Constitutional Court of South Korea overturned the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun.  We went through an impeachment here not too long ago, our nation’s third.
  
  
• On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. A few years back the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage for all 50 states. Sad, sad---SO sad.
  
  
• On May 24, 2004 North Korea banned mobile phones. And, as you know that government is still in the news, threatening freedom including persecuting Christians for their faith.
  
  
• On May 26, 2004, U.S. Army veteran Terry Nichols was found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing. Man’s inhumanity to man continues to breed terror.

I could go on, but it all goes to show that King Solomon was correct, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Before you sigh over the monotony of life, let me remind you another NON-change---one that is eternally important. James 1:17 proclaims the comforting fact that GOD, “…does not change like shifting shadows.” He is still (and always will be) all-knowing, all-powerful, always-present with us anywhere, all-loving, and eager for us to repent of our sin so we can experience His forgiveness and grace.

As we fret over fallen humans continued sinful actions seen in the redefining of God’s institution of marriage and headlines filled with acts of brutality and terror, not to mention the constant failures of governments and their leaders, let’s anchor our thoughts to the fact that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

When we wake up to another day in a fallen world, let’s call this to mind and have hope, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-2)

Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark