Timeless

 

I have always had a passion for interior design. For a long time, I was drawn to modern, trendy styles, viewing traditional designs as outdated and from another era. However, as I have matured, I have developed a genuine appreciation for classic design. I now enjoy pairing traditional pieces with more contemporary styles. These classic items from the past have proven to be timeless; while they were stunning in their own era, they remain relevant and complement modern designs.

 

I once felt similarly about the Bible. I believed it was relevant only to the time period in which it was written. While I thought we could draw examples from it, I assumed we lived in a completely different world.

 

However, the more familiar I became with the Bible, the more I realized how timeless its message is. God uses the messages of scripture to relate to our stories today, making them relevant in the present. He connects the past with our current circumstances, speaks to us about our present, and provides guidance for our lives. When we see these connections, they resonate with us and encourage us.

 

An Old Testament story illustrates this idea well. Nehemiah and his people had just returned from captivity and were on a mission to restore the fallen temple. The Bible states that they were in the seventh month. While studying the scrolls, they discovered that in the same month, God had commanded the people of Israel through Moses to celebrate the Feast of the Seventh Month by building temporary shelters. Since it was currently the seventh month, God connected the story from the scrolls with their present circumstances. They followed the command and did the same, and the Bible says, "And their joy was very great." (Ne. 8:17)

 

When the Holy Spirit brings the stories of the past to our attention and relates them to our present, we find great joy when we act according to those lessons.