I have loved the study of history since I have been a little boy.
While there have been a few teachers along the way that fanned that passion inside me i.e. my 4th-grade teacher Mrs. Kropp, College Professors Dr. Robert Schultz, Dr. David Snead, and Dr. Brian Melton, my love of history has always been a result of my relationship with Jesus.
I was raised in a Christian home, went to a Christian school, was involved in a Bible-believing church, and even went to a Christian University.
Like many kids, I had my own struggles with my beliefs and behavior. I always had a hard time allowing the Lord to have complete control over my life.
Sovereign God
Then, one day, I was listening to a pastor speak. The pastor's name was Steven Furtick, and he was preaching out of the book of Daniel.
I can't tell you what the sermon was about, but I can tell you the verse that God used to change my life and my perspective on history.
It is one line in Daniel 2:21 that says:
"He removes kings and sets up kings"
A similar line appears throughout the book of Daniel and can be seen in many of the other books written by prophets in the Bible. However, it was the first time I had really seen it.
How many times had I argued over politics or spoken against one of my leaders?
Kingdom of Jesus
God has complete control over what happens in His story. I will never understand it, and to try and judge his ways would be above my pay grade. However, I know one thing about His story, and that is everything points to Jesus.
Everything prior to the birth of Jesus was pointing to his first coming, and everything after is pointing to his second coming.
The object of the Christian is not to celebrate this world but to prepare for the coming of a greater kingdom. A kingdom is more powerful than any ancient empire or modern city-state. A kingdom where people will finally be free and the terrible things of this world, such as human trafficking, will cease to exist.
Conclusion
I started this website due to my love of history and the need for an outlet. I love studying what makes us who we are. It simply fascinates me.
However, my goal has changed.
My original goal was to regurgitate facts, whereas now I want to figure out a way to point everything to Jesus.
While I will never be a Bible thumper, I am going to take my website in another direction, and I am not going to insert my faith whenever I can to bring glory to Him.