The world as currently known in any generation will change. It has vanished repeatedly. The world I grew up in was the world influenced by World War I and the Great Depression. It changed again after World War II into a massive move toward wealth, urban/modern life context and into a technological maze dominated by a materialistic humanism in America. All has been touched by an amended world: education, governments, families, even crime. Crime is now found in the psychologically troubled and misfits, in sophisticated moguls, in educated hackers of electronics, in world-savvy men and women who are fraudulent in the context of their expertise, both public and private in nature. Unwilling to return to that which has preceded current life there appears to be a malaise, or outright revolt against authorities and programs. As this is being written every part of the world is touched by the negatives of changing events. Africa is touched by little wars in several countries; Europe and Russia are faced with tensions in the Ukraine that have, in death-dealing demonstrations, divided the country in half. Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan continue warfare and disruption. Americans have been involved in the Afghan conflict for more years than for any other war in its history. Several nations, continue to threaten peace and solutions. The list of problems related to everything from weather to warfare has infected public attitude. Leaders, whether democratic or imperial, fail to address the main issues of government and the public good.
A few years ago the Oxford scholar, Norman Davies, known as the pre-eminent historian of Europe, authored a striking book, Vanished Kingdoms. We might call it a modern: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire the classic written by Gibbon during the period of the American Revolution. Davies, like Gibbon, Toynbee and others, argues that all nations die (regression theories). He includes the United Kingdom, and perhaps America. He calls on a striking analogy for the upcoming change. It will be like an avalanche where everything at this moment is serene, and beautiful, until in a moment of time, undercut by collapse beneath, and air pressure above the mountain of snow explodes and takes down everything in its crash down the mountainside. There is neglect in resolution in modern nations so that the avalanche will break away, and cannot be stopped. Davies stated: If Rome and Sparta could perish, what state could hope to live forever? Knowing the likelihood of collapse in advance offers some serenity to Davies. Knowing seems to do that for historians. H. G. Wells rejected the idea that he should leave London during the WWII. He responded that he wanted to observe first-hand the end of the war’s history – live or die.
There is an underlying truth to personal life and families. Raymond Zhong, interviewing Davies noted: eventual collapse is a safer bet than indefinite life. That concept is common even if not well stated or understood. It is a concept that God appears to apply to earth. When matters get too far out of proper form, God sweeps the area clean, and offers a new beginning. It is a concept that is not fatalistic, but if understood and the problems addressed, can be avoided. The avalanche does not need to take place. It is not a fatalistic certainty, but it is common. Societies fail in tragedy. Our children must pay the piper.
Hezekiah has become a major illustration of the point to be made here. He had served as king for some years. He became seriously ill and was informed that his illness would be unto death. Greatly distressed he prayed for healing, and was healed, granted fifteen additional years. He took the grace of God as his own cause for pride, and flaunted his recovery with a pride of face and place. Isaiah informed him that the new direction had negated the added grace from God, and after his death his kingdom and the future of his children would be at the hands of the Babylonians. His response was unconscionable, but common for many persons: At least it won’t happen while I am here. Others are left to suffer our messes. The future calls upon us to give benefit to it as we were to have been benefitted. We are called upon to answer for our purpose – to gain resolution. We leave a future as part of our present and presence. We fail the future. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020