HISTORY LIKE A WHEEL

HISTORY LIKE A WHEEL

Friday, December 19, 2014

Hebrews [GW] 11 … Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did what God approved, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. The world didn't deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground. All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them. [Please read chapter in entirety in your favorite translation.]

  History goes around and around. Why does it repeat itself? A number of reasons among which is our sinful capacity for lying; believing what has happened in the past or on the other side of the world can never happen to us; believing we can do things that have been done repeatedly, always turning out badly, but pridefully believing results will be different.

  There is nothing new about beheadings: http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/behead.html As history has turned, heads have and continue to roll, often doing so as consequence of faith.

  Consider Otranto, Italy, 1480.

  The Muslim conqueror Mehmet II had boasted he would one day stable his horses in St. Peter’s in Rome. But first he needed a beachhead. He chose Otranto. Mehmet’s army greatly outnumbered the soldiers defending the city. Thousands died attempting to defend their home. It soon fell. The surviving women and children of value were sold as slaves. And the methodical slaughter began.

  As is custom of ISIS et al today, males 15 to 50 were offered option to deny Christ and convert to Islam.

  A courageous simple tailor refused and called out for others to stand fast in faith.

  On the Hill of Minerva overlooking their town, one by one 800 were beheaded as they followed the faithful tailor’s example. Today in Otranto Cathedral their skulls and bones are stacked on 3 walls for all to see and be reminded that yesterday can at any time be today.

EBB4