6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:6-13)Thoughts: Today we are beginning a new series on Advent characters. I am not talking about the secular Christmas characters whose mythology often clouds the truth and reality of God's great love. Characters like Frosty the Snowman, the Abominable Snowman, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more (maybe even the semi-Christian Santa) are everywhere this time of year. Christmas characters are also found in traditional Christmas movies- like Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" or George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) in "It's a Wonderful Life" or Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) in "Home Alone" or Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and now a slew of video game characters, or others. In our culture these relatively new characters are sometimes better known than the real life characters of the original Christmas story- like Herod, Joseph, Mary, who were the shepherds and who were the wise men. So I hope to explore some of the obvious ones as well as explore some of those not- so obvious with a little bit of educational license.
The New
Testament tells us that the Old Testament was written in part for examples and
warnings for us. I pray that we will
look at those who have gone before us and learn from them positively, or
negatively avoiding their pitfalls.
Today we are learning the importance of those who actually (not fictionally) go before us. If you were admitted to the hospital and the nurse came in to talk to you, the nurse would ask, “Do you have any diabetes in your family? Has anyone in your family ever had heart trouble? Any high blood pressure?” Today we understand that we can indeed learn from those who have gone before us, for they affect us.” Those who have lived before us also effect our faith. If their faith was strong, it is a lift to us. If their faith is weak, it is harder for us to overcome their weakness. So much of the Bible is simply biography and interpretation of biography as a way for us to learn or be inspired.
Prayer; Lord, help me to learn from the real lives of others to be encouraged and inspired this year in advent.
(Matthias Stom Adoration of the Shepherds 1635-40- from Wikimedia)
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