A Devotional Thought From Ecclesiastes

The things that have been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.     Ecclesiastes 1:9

The preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us in this verse that in the cycle of life there continue the same sins and actions today that were done yesterday and years ago; centuries and millennia ago. The human race, when unredeemed, lives committing the same sins that have been the wicked deeds of all societies. Adultery, terrorism, murder, political intrigue, war, horrendous atrocities, lying, theft, repeat themselves over and over again, and will until Jesus comes. The reason? Human beings are sinners, and when they are unredeemed by salvation through Christ, we can expect nothing more than a continual repeating of the usual sins. There is no new thing under the sun. This makes George Santayana’s famous philosophical statement, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” a truism. Good government, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit are designed by God restrain sin.