History: What Is Significant in My Past?

May 6, 1999

The Question of History

The question of meaning deals with freewill, responsibility, values & morals.
It focuses on these issues in the present.
The question of history deals with the same issues only in the past.
What is significant in my past?
Have I been free to choose or am I a product of my environment?
Does history shape humanity or does humanity shape history?
Cyclic & progressive models are built upon assumptions of history & humanity.
Is my life a part of a greater cosmic pattern or is it a struggle of matter or ideas?
Figure: "History: Issues & Views."
Has our past been characterized by choice or a chemical-physical environment?

A Biblical View of History

In God's world one's life is viewed as freedom within a plan.
Let us focus first on God's plan.
While the eternal God exists above time, His work is ongoing in the world.
God has eternal purposes through which He interacts with humanity in time.
Figure: "Providence: The Ongoing Work of the Eternal God."
God's purposes include mercy, preservation & justice (Job 37:13).
This is first seen in the Genesis account after the fall (3:16-21).
God's all-encompassing method includes permission & control.
His permission encompasses human personality (choice) & imperfection.
His control involves ordinary & exceptional means.
Freewill & responsibility exist within God's plan for history.
The result is that God works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11).
There are several examples in the Bible which illustrate these principles.
Figure: "Biblical Case Studies in History."

Infinite & Finite Perspectives of History

God has an infinite view of history & humanity has a finite view (Prov 20:24).
God exists above time & people are confined to the present instant.
For us, the past is a memory & the future is a prediction.
God knows all the details & we know a few that have been observed.
While God's general purposes are known, specifics may not be (Eccl 11:5).
In comparison to God's knowledge of history, our view is extremely limited.
We can trust God's heart without knowing details of His work (Rom 11:25-36).

Patterns, Progress & Decline

As seen above, history contains patterns, progress & decline.
Knowing this, history can be examined to discover these elements.
Figure: "Historical Overview of Western Culture."

From Philosophical to Personal

What is significant in our past?
In God's world there is a plan in history which is both global & individual.
His plan for our individual lives begins with a unique identity (Ps 139:13-16):

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

This passage states that our days were ordained before we were born.
God has a plan for us as individuals.
Job 37:13 asserts that our life's events are for preservation, mercy & justice:

Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

God gives special attention to those who believe (Rom 8:28):

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose.

While specifics of His purpose may be unclear at any one time, His plan exists.
God is the author of our personal existence, identity, meaning & history.