
The study of history is something quite amazing - although at times for those who still must study it in school, it seems to never end. A correct look at how history affects our lives today makes it come alive for many. Yet how does history have any affect or any value to us today?
History teaches lessons. When one looks back into the story of civilization, he can learn what military techniques have worked, what governments have risen and fallen, how technology has evolved, and how science has constantly changed. The lessons that are learned from looking into the dusty pages of history are irreplaceable. Yet still, they are dusty pages that seem to have no real affect on the average citizen today. That is true unless one looks closer and begins to draw lessons from those faded pages.
History explains why things are as they are. As the wondering about why the United States is as it is today comes about, one only need look into the nation’s history to see how the slippery slope began. When the Halfway Covenant was established, and deism began to become prevalent in American society, the nation began to fall - and we can see that we are being judged for it today. We can understand why technology is as it is from looking at history - we can look back and see how the advances slowly evolved to what they are today. In fact, yesterday quickly becomes history when we take a look at technology. Wherever you look, those faded pages begin to shed some light on why our nation is as it is today - and why the world is as it is.
Yet history seems to become quite amazing when we look at the people who have made history. When we look at their lives, we can learn more than just what they did and how they did it, but who they were inside and what they believed and how that affected what they did and how they did it. Take John Smith for example - when we take a look at his writings, we look at how he was a man who had Christ prevalent in his life, yet not preeminent as Christ is supposed to be. We can quickly apply this bit of history to our own lives - we as Christians need to make sure that Christ is preeminent, not just prevalent in our daily lives. The people who made history have made our nation as it is today, and we can learn why we should mimic them, or why we should reject their lifestyles.
History is more than just a dusty, faded, and torn book to be read when we are bored or are forced to do so. It is the very thing that makes our lives as they are, explains why we are as we are, and helps us in learning about who we can become. Without history, our nation would be nothing - lessons of the past would not lead to wise decisions. The United States would be farther down the slippery slope than it is today without history, which cannot and must not be ignored.
Tim Sweetman is an 18-year-old journalist, blogger, and student who lives near our nation's capital,
Washington D.C. He is much more widely known by his "code-name," Agent Tim. This name also serves as
the name of his popular blog, which has received over 750,000 visits since its debut three years ago. Contact Tim
September 2nd, 2006 at 12:13 pm
And a resounding AMEN!
History is extremely interesting.
September 2nd, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Wow, great article, Tim!!!
I agree, history is fascinating. And we can learn so much from mistakes made in years gone by…
September 3rd, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Very well said, my brother in Christ!!
September 3rd, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it…
And the cliche strikes again.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:34 am
[...] …Agent Tim has had an excellent post on history and why it’s important to continually remember the past. He says, [...]