One Life

You’re probably familiar with the famous quote from Harvard Philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In a recent lecture on church history with my students at Tokyo Christian University I realized not only how true this statement is for the church and for us Christians but also it made me pause to think about history and the Evil One. Satan, unlike the church, has the benefit of having experienced all of the history of mankind himself. He lived through the Garden of Eden, Babel, the divided kingdom, the crucifixion, the initial advance of the Gospel, Constantine, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Great Awakening, the fall of Communism, modern day evangelicalism, and globalization. There is no sin and temptation to which man is susceptible that Satan does not know, has not used, has not used effectively and devastatingly, and will not continue to use. Satan knows history.

This puts him at a great advantage as the church and Christians repeat their follies again and again sometimes ignorant of even having an enemy. At other times we have so domesticated the very idea of the Devil that he has no bearing on either our lives or this world.

Not all is lost to the Devil’s historical advantage however. There is an historical record, a very good one, to be read for those willing to read. Wonderful accounts from the early church through the modern age that bring the story of the work of God to light, a work more often despite the ways of man rather than because of him. Of course our primary historical account is contained within the Scriptures themselves, a book too often ignored by those who profess faith in the truths contained within it.

Finally our greatest comfort is that God knows history. Not only that, He authored it. Imagine the frustration of the Devil! Throughout the whole history of man Satan has worked wisely, diabolically manipulating the sinful hearts of man within this fallen world to great effect, only to know that at every turn and in every circumstance that God has desired, He has not only thwarted his schemes but has used the very works of Satan’s hands for the GLORY of Jesus Christ. You would think Satan would just give up, but it’s not in his nature but to do as he does.

So Christian, don’t forget the lessons of the history of the church. Know the ways and works of the evil one, mankind, and the Holy Spirit. Read biographies and autobiographies of the great saints - John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, Hudson Taylor, Augustine. They will be faithful companions in times of trial which in turn will lead to triumph in God’s due time. They have been my dearest mentors….