Chapter 1 - Can You Hear the Wheels Spinning?

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
(Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)

God is the God of History.  He did not choose to bring about all of His purposes at once, but instead chose to unfold His eternal plan throughout time.  Consider what a tremendous blessing (understatement) we as Christians have today in the completed revelation of God!  By God's grace, we can see the fullness of God's plan of redemption in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus!  


The past matters to God. Many of us can look back upon our past and see how God in His providence brought us to Himself.  While we often hope and pray that God will immediately intervene in a given situation, whether illness, personal struggle or relational difficulties, He more frequently works over periods of time in our lives, and in such a way that we can look back with astonishment at how His sovereign plan has unfolded for our good and for His glory.

Does our past matter?  If so, how should we view our past in way that honors God and enables us to grow as Christians?  

How we approach these and other questions will have a profound impact on not only our own lives, but the lives of those around us.  As Christians our aim should be to glorify God and make Christ known, and the handling of our own lives (which necessarily includes our past) can have a tremendous impact on these ends, for ill or good.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)