Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do a new thing.  Isaiah 43:18,19

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.  Revelation 2:5

True story: Three pastors were sharing lunch together the day before the church they all had served in celebrated a major anniversary. One was elderly and retired. Another was middle-aged and now serving in denominational leadership. The last was young, five-years-out-of seminary. The youngest remarked that it must have been amazing back in the day. To hear congregants tell it, the church was really on fire 25 years ago; three service, all so packed they had to set up folding chairs. The middle-aged pastor chuckled, “Is that what they’re talking about? Back in that day, all they could do was talk about how wonderful it was back when the church first began and there was such enthusiasm and team-spirit.” The elderly pastor practically choked on his sandwich. “Really!??!” he said. “Back when we first planted the church everyone was pining for the stability, programs, and budgets of the church we had broken off from.”

It’s easy to look back and conclude that things were better then. But nostalgia has its problems. For one thing, it simply makes us unhappy with the present. Living in what God did in the past can take our attention away from what God is doing today.

Many Christians realize that they are not currently at the top of their game…They have experienced better times, spiritually speaking. They remember when it was all fresh and exciting and every day they learned new ways to experience God and His people. These people are well aware that their first love is a cherished memory, not a present reality.

Then there are Christians who have had spectacular experiences with the Lord. Revivals, special times of the church pulling together as one; seeing the hand of God work in wondrous ways. But though it may have lingering effects, it’s not what God is doing today. Living in our salvation experience. Living in (or out of) the last move of God. Looking back to sooth the boredom of where we are, looking back when we need to be looking at Jesus, our life’s Author and Finisher.

But doesn’t Jesus say to consider how far we’ve fallen from our first love? Yes He does. But that is a far cry from enshrining it. You see, it’s easy to avoid moving forward; it’s easy to sooth our discomfort with our current state by looking back at how things used to be. So Jesus isn’t suggesting we get all nostalgic, He’s telling us to use that picture to change where we are today.

Specifically, to change our love.

The One who promises to make all things new tells us, “I am about to do a new thing.” Considering how far we’ve fallen is intended to prepare us for that new thing, not make us long for the former days.