Did you know that nostalgia used to refer to a medical condition faced by soldiers? In modern language, nostalgia refers to the warm feeling we get when we think about “the good old days.” Back in the 17th-19thcentury however, it referred to soldiers that so badly wanted to go home it was driving them into a manic state. They were so distracted by wanting to be somewhere else that they could do little else than think about the past.
While far from a medical diagnosis nostalgia can still be a problem for many people today. When you look back on your life and where you’ve been, your memory is often unreliable. Things that were good become better, and things that were bad become worse. If you need an example, just think of that one uncle’s story about the fish he caught. Each time he tells it the fish gets a little bit bigger and the struggle gets a little bit harder. Our brains are weird. This is why we are called to keep our minds on the things above.
Colossians 3:1-3 says, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
While it’s easy to remember the landmark moments that make up our lives, it’s easy to lose the little ones. We don’t store what we had for lunch 6 weeks ago on Tuesday in our long-term memory because it will almost never be important. So, when you are choosing the thoughts to hold on to, choose everlasting truths.
Christ came for you. Other people got in on the deal too, but Jesus came that YOU might be saved. There are so many earthly things that we think about things that our mind says, “if everyone just went back to this the world would be better.”
It can be fun to rest and reminisce in “the good old days,” just don’t get stuck there. There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your memory. Dwell on the everlasting truths.