Good ole days…
There is a tendency in all of us—especially in the church—to look backward and say, “Things were better then.” We remember fuller pews, familiar hymns, simpler times, and we quietly wonder what went wrong. But Scripture speaks directly to that kind of thinking.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 says,
“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” (KJV)
In a small church, an older member sat outside during a service, discouraged by how much had changed. The music sounded different. The people were younger. The methods weren’t what he remembered. To him, the former days felt more spiritual, more meaningful.
Then a sudden storm hit. The power went out. No microphones. No lights. No screens. The carefully planned service came to a halt.
But something unexpected happened.
People pulled out their phones for light. Someone found an old lantern. Voices rose—not in performance, but in prayer. Scripture was quoted from memory. Neighbors shared food. Strangers became family. The church didn’t stop—it became the church.
In that moment, the man who longed for yesterday stood and quoted Ecclesiastes 7:10. And it finally made sense. The problem wasn’t that the past was better. The problem was that he had stopped looking for God in the present.
Here’s the lesson:
God has not moved backward. He has not weakened. He has not abandoned His people.
When we constantly say, “The former days were better,” we imply—often without realizing it—that God is no longer at work. But wisdom recognizes that the same God who worked then is working now, just sometimes in ways we didn’t expect.
The past is a testimony.
The present is an opportunity.
The future is still in God’s hands.
So instead of asking, “Why were the former days better?”
The wiser question is, “Lord, what are You doing today—and how can I be part of it?”
That is the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 7:10.
Is it time for you to move into the present? Just take a moment and talk to the Lord… Tell God you believe His Son, Jesus, paid for your sins and rose from the grave. Let Him know you’re sorry and want to live for Him. He will forgive your sins and mistakes, give you everlasting life with Him, and place His Spirit deep within your heart. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” and Romans 10:9 tells us, ”that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved“
May God Bless you… Bob
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