We're All Humans, Aren't We?

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted on here.

This summer has been one full of struggles, thoughts, ideas, aspirations, hopes, and failures.

But, one thing that has been exciting me lately is my newly discovered zeal for reading the Bible. It’s partially because of a fantastic new Bible that I was lent. It has historical notes, context, biographies, and more littered through each book that helps keep the reader on track or clarifies things for the reader. In reading (I’m up to 1 Chronicles right now), I’m discovering that the axiom “God is in the details” is very true. The entire breadth and history of the Old Testament is absolutely staggering, spanning several centuries and dynasties, and yet there’s a thread that is being faithfully woven throughout. Granted, all of this isn’t for everybody. I’ve always been fascinated by history, and there are some people who could care less, just like there are people who get excited about esoteric mathematical concepts that I find hard to grasp.

This thread that I’m seeing is God being faithful to His ultimate plan for humanity. You’ll find that many people will argue that with the arrival of Christ, the New Testament is the only thing you really need to know. I strongly disagree with that statement. Reading the Old Testament with its colorful characters, violent histories, and lyrical lyrics really draws you in and makes you feel part of history. It’s concrete, something you can grab on.

For example, a few years ago, I flew to Italy as part of Trinity’s interim. I’ve read books, seen pictures, seen movies of Italy, but there is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for being there. The cities I visited Milan, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, and Rome are steeped in history. They exude so much history that the whole city stinks of it. When you first walk into an Italian duomo, words will magically escape from your mind, your mouth will fall down as far as your skin will hold it, and you will walk around, all of a sudden feeling so small, insignificant, and yet part of something so much bigger than yourself. That interesting dichotomy will stay with you until you walk outside, gasping for breath.

That feeling is how I feel when I’m reading the Bible right now. It’s coming alive like it never did before. It is no longer a book that has occasional interesting Sunday School stories and boring passages in other sections. I’m seeing entire nations being built and crumbling before my own eyes. I’m seeing people who are struggling with themselves and the culture they live in, just like we are doing today. I’m seeing families banding together or tearing themselves apart.

I’m starting to identify myself as a Christian, seeing my history happen before my own eyes. I’m no longer a person who goes to church just because it’s the right thing to do. I do it because I want to join in the history of my religion. I want to participate. I’m feeling like I’m in the middle of a part of the story that God’s been writing from Day One. It’s exciting stuff.

My attention was recently drawn to Isaiah 35 in which he writes about the joy that the Redeemed will have when the new chapter begins in the new heaven and earth. These are starting to be my favorite verses for the obvious reasons for those who know me.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
   and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
   and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
   the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
   grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

God is in the details. If you doubt it, especially when you look at the world today, just read the Old Testament, especially 1-2 Kings.