Facts of history support the truth

While I have many ideas for my articles, sometimes I check the internet to see what happened on the expected date of publication in the Quay County Sun. I did so this year for Sept. 14, and here’s a sampling of what I found at Brittanica.com, with some comments.

Born Sept. 14, 1849, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov is known for demonstrating the concept of conditioned reflex using a buzzer whenever some dogs were fed, then making the sound without feeding them, causing them to salivate. Christians are to desire God’s word as food for spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 1:2-11; 3:14-18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Margaret Sanger, a founder of the birth-control movement in the U.S., was born on Sept. 14, 1879. I thought it interesting to note the birthdate of someone who promoted birth control. There’s little Scripture about birth control, except one prohibition against it in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Genesis 38:1-10). Otherwise, John 1:13 indicates children can be brought about by human decision, indicating that parents are allowed to prevent pregnancy.

On the other hand, the Old Testament carried severe penalties, including life for life, for injuring a pregnant woman, even accidentally, so as to cause a miscarriage or premature birth from which the baby didn’t survive (Exodus 21:22-25). As the avenger, God now uses government for punishment, and I wonder what he’ll do with unrepentant abortionists and governmental leaders who promote their activities (Romans 12:17-13:7, esp., 13:4; 1:18-22, 28-32).

On Sept. 14, 1741, George Frederic Handel completed “Messiah,” reflecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. And in 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write our national anthem because our flag still waved over Fort McHenry after the British attack.

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction; hence, the following quote. On Sept. 14, 1927, “Isadora Duncan, a pioneer of modern expressive dance, died in France when her long scarf became entangled in the rear wheel of the car in which she was riding.”

Most of us probably know of deaths with bizarre causes, but, while death can come completely unexpectedly, some people have an indication of its imminence due to illness, such as actor Patrick Swayze, who died of cancer on Sept. 14, 2009.

The date is set for Jesus’ return, the most important event to come (Acts 17:30-31). God only knows when that will happen, but we’re expected to be ready (Matthew 24:36-51). Remember, fulfillment of past prophecy is proof that what’s foretold about the future also will come about (Joshua 23:14-16; John 14:1-4).

The facts of history always support the truth, but many are trying to rewrite American history to change the future. If we allow them to succeed, we’ll likely find our flag not still there and lose “the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” our American rights guaranteed by our Constitution, including our right to worship God as the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” who “shall reign forever and ever, Hallelujah!”

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].