Old Stuff

As I read some of the spiritual writers who lived and served Christ in other centuries, I am amazed at the contemporary nature of their thinking and writing.  In some cases it seems that they might be writing for our time, but a closer look reveals that their reading audience has long departed this earth for the heavenly home.  I was reminded of this recently as I was reading some of the sermons of Charles Spurgeon and, of course, my daily read from Oswald Chambers.      

These writers and a host of others who stand alongside of them in the history of the church have written things which have stood the test of time.  When what we read from another century is written with such relevance and continues to garner such popularity, it stands to reason that there is something within the words worth the time it takes to read.  But, alas, so many turn their back on anything that was written before yesterday.     

Perhaps, it is a different style of writing, or even a different use of the English language which turns some folks away from older writings, but more likely it is the attitude that nothing so old could be of any value.  The truth is that the measure of any writing is the way it stands the test of time.  If something is still being read and valued by many who walk the road of faith, it may be that there is something there which will do more than tickle our ears.  It may be that if given a chance, it will stir our soul.