Most of us like the joy of getting something new. And while we don’t always rush into new things, we still like the thought of being up-to-date and relevant. The basic assumption of life is that we’re progressing forward. And this often makes whatever is old to be considered as outdated and going backwards. But inasmuch as we are moving forward, there’s still wisdom in remembering the old ways.
To be sure, many things come and go without even a second thought. But other things have an enduring quality – lasting throughout time and generations.
And there’s a reason these old ways tend to stick around. They often contain bedrock truths not subject to the ever-changing public opinions or latest fads of the day.
As such, the old ways still provide enduring wisdom relevant and useful for us today as we seek to navigate our way forward.
For instance, ours is not the first to grapple with the realities of marriage and family, sexuality and gender, or simply what it means to build and promote the good in society.
And it’s arrogant and shortsighted to believe our generation is so advanced that we have nothing to learn from those who have come before us.
Of course, the landscape looks different today, but it’s still true there’s nothing new under the sun.
Human nature has always been prone to do whatever seems right in our own eyes and drift away from the standards God has for us. And God’s way often seems outdated to the progressive values of modern culture.
Remembering the old ways is not trying to replicate how our parents or grandparents lived life. Rather, it’s looking back to discern those enduring patterns of truth, goodness, and beauty that never grow old.
We risk building on the sandy foundation of our own modern pride when we don’t allow the old ways to teach us again.
Keep pressing forward and discovering all the new that’s still ahead. And don’t forget the wisdom of the enduring old ways. They’ve endured for a reason, and we should not let pride blind us to the value they still bring to us today.
Photo by Faith Enck on Unsplash
