THE SANTAYANA PRINCIPLE
Now all these things happened unto them for examples
and they are written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the age are come.
I Corinthians 10:11
Not everyone knows who George Santayana was, but most have heard the famous quote from his writings; “Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it” or words to that affect. This quote teaches us something about this Philosopher’s view of the past. We can look at it from two angles, that of “nostalgia” or that of “fear”. As far as the reality and fickle nature of “nostalgic eyes” are concerned, someone once said that “Nothing is more responsible for the ‘good old days’ than a bad memory”. Someone else once said that if you want to remember those good old days just turn off the air conditioner in July. Well, Santayana certainly did not look upon the past with nostalgic eyes. To him any repetition of history was something to be avoided.
I think that the majority of the Bible deals with the history of man in a similar way. The major difference of course being that God offers an optimistic future for those who pay attention to His instructions and learn from the examples He gives and the promises He makes to those who buck the tidal wave of evil brought about by Adam’s transgression.
One such example in Scripture is I Corinthians. Towards the end of chapter nine the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a foot race to illustrate how he himself strives relentlessly to win the prize. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I Corinthians 9:24-27 And we learn from his letter to Timothy that the prize was nothing less than Eternal Life. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Timothy 6:12 and then I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. II Timothy 4:7, 8
Going into chapter ten Paul wants to teach the Corinthians a history lesson. He uses the Santayana Principle to present a mirror image of the history of God’s people right up to the present as reflected in Israel’s wilderness experience. Immediately we see that the opportunities, the challenges and the temptations that the children of Israel faced were common to all. And “ALL” is what Paul means since he uses the word five times in the first four verses. And this unity of experience or commonality of fellowship that he speaks of is woven throughout the Bible.
Talk about opportunity? Imagine the excitement of traveling under the Cloud of Shekinah Glory! Of passing on dry ground right through the Red Sea as the waters are held back by the Mighty Hand of God Himself! And the thrill that followed the fear when Pharoah and his army are swallowed up in the return of the waters to their own place. Of realizing a type of Resurrection by Baptism with Moses in this crossing! Of supernatural food being provided directly from God! Of water from the Rock, which is Christ Jesus in His pre-incarnate appearance! Of clothes that do not wear out! Glory, Honor, Power, Majesty and Worship! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Well, burst my bubble! Wouldn’t you know that there must be a BUT somewhere along the line? There is, and it comes in verse 5. Sadly, with most of the people who experienced the great event of the Exodus God was not pleased, and that’s putting it mildly. The word that Paul uses to describe how the Lord deals with the rebels is translated in the NIV and NKJV as “Scattered” and probably describes what happened better than KJV’s “Overturned”. It represents a picture of bodies here and there and every place as they fall down dead in God’s judgment.
What could have caused such a marvelous event that is nothing less than the Redemption of Israel from bondage to result in such devastating tragedy? We are not left in doubt. It is to inform us about the why’s and wherefore’s of his own people that Paul writes the details and warnings.
1. It is because the children of Israel simply “Lusted after evil things” (v. 6).
2. It is because they became “Idolaters” (v. 7)
To the amazement of Moses whilst he was on the mountain receiving the Divine Word of God! Aaron who was to watch over the flock not only allowed the deviation and abomination of a Golden Calf, but orchestrated the construction and worship of the image. (Please read Exodus 32)
3. It is because they “Committed Sexual Immorality” (See Numbers 25)
This resulted in the death of multiple thousands in a single day.
4. It is because they Tempted Christ, and put Him to the test (See Exodus 17) and were destroyed by serpents (Numbers 21).
5. It is because they “Complained” murmuring and grumbled so that they were destroyed (See Numbers 14)
And so we come around again to the reason for the exhortation from the Apostle, so that history does not repeat itself with the current crop of God’s own children. That they do not Lust after evil things and suffer similar consequences.
One more warning is recorded in verse 12. Paul says Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. You have heard it said many times that “whenever you find a ‘Therefore’, find out what it is ‘there for’”. Well this therefore is there so that we will go all the way back to verse one and realize that at the time when God was leading blessed Israelites out of Egypt, they did not have it in their mind that almost all of them would be scattered about in the wilderness. Perhaps Paul would have us go all the way back to the last few verses of chapter nine to encourage us in our striving for the crown even as the great Apostle had to do.
Thank God for verse 13!
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There is no inescapable reason for a fall or failure to be in your future. Whatever trial or temptation you face, even one as severe as a wilderness experience, it is something that is common to man. This does not mean that everyone goes through the same trials. Nor does it mean that everyone handles trials in exactly the same way. It simply means that no matter what kind of trial or how severe the trial you find yourself in, others have suffered similar trials and have managed to come through them victoriously. The only question is “Are you born again by the Spirit of God?” If you are, then you have the God given Power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to overcome every temptation and trial … if you will. Even if you cannot find the anyone that went through just what you are experiencing, to talk it over and to sympathize with you, always remember; Jesus was tempted in all manner as we are, without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Anyone who has listen to me for any length of time has heard me say that I Corinthians 10:13 is the “I Can’t Say I Can’t Verse”. Contrary to popular understanding, verse 13 does not give anyone an excuse for failing to successfully negotiate every temptation and trial. Simply put, the fact that
- God is faithful, and that
- He will not try you beyond what you are able, and that
- He says you CAN bear up under it
Come together to mean that two things are the result of every trial.
First, if you are successful, it means that God gets all the glory because He is the one who saw you through.
Second, if you are unsuccessful, it means that you get the blame, because you did not bear up until you reached the “escape”.
Now that is something very difficult to receive in this day when everyone is a “victim”, and all fault is transferred to that fellow named “Somebody Else” But the reality is that we are responsible for our conduct. We will answer for what we do in this body. And we better begin to learn the Santayana Principle of Bible History so that we will not have to suffer the fate of those who disregarded the Word of the Lord
Allow me to end with a couple of warnings of my own from the Holy Scriptures.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
II Corinthians 5:10
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:13
Remember that with God: “Success Does Not Mean Approval …Approval Means Success!”
Pastor Hayden