History Begins

Matt Miles • April 19, 2018

History – a word that usually brings an eye roll or sigh, accompanied by a flash back to a class that you struggled through in school. Our worldview of history is greatly impacted by our experience in or with history. Our history teacher’s passion for history or our family’s emphasis on history can shape our worldview of past events. Those of you that had passionate, exciting history teachers who made history come alive and apply to your lives had a much different experience than I did growing up. For those like me, history is often seen as just dates and events that seem very disconnected from present reality. This worldview then can impact our view of Biblical history with questions such as: When does it begin in time? How accurate is it to “actual” history? Are Biblical accounts real-life events? Do I need to learn Biblical history to live a Christian life?

Throughout Scripture the Lord reminds us that we are to remember accounts in history. We find one of those times recorded in Deuteronomy 4:9-10 when Moses is instructed by the Lord to not forget what He had done for His people. His people were not only to never forget, but also to teach those things to their “children and to their children after them.” This is direct instruction to pass on historical events that shape our lives, and even more than that, the acknowledgement of the Lord’s direct influence in history, present and past. Passing them on to our children and beyond is the best way to assure we don’t forget past sins or Providence. History is not always pretty, but we should not forget those moments or events either. It seems in the last few years there has been a concerted effort to blot out portions of our American history that don’t agree with a person’s particular worldview. (I digress, that topic is for another article.)   The Bible records even the sins in the history of His people. Biblical history is vital to our walk today; it shows us the plan the Lord has had since the beginning for our lives and time.

So, where does history begin in the Bible? The short answer is Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning…” The word for beginning is re’shiyth (rā·shēth’), which has several meanings ranging from the first in place, in time or in order and rank. In the context it is clearly referring to the first moments of time as the Lord created, or began, it. As time began ticking, the Lord set its expression in a manner that would impact the rest of creation. Time was set apart within eternity, controlled only by Him, and will exist for as long as He has set it to endure. In the perfection of creation, time and eternity were more interconnected or open. When sin entered the world, the relationship between time and eternity became more disconnected or opaque.

So often when we view history, it is divided into compartments that fit our worldview. We may have a compartment for ancient “prehistoric” time, one for ancient civilizations, one for Biblical history and one for modern history. Many times, this worldview comes from the way history has been taught to us or from what we have experienced through documentaries, books, movies, and museums – in other words, through other people’s worldviews. We, as believers, should always start our worldview of history with God’s Word, starting time and history in Genesis 1:1. All other “compartments” of history must be measured against the truth of the Scriptures. This places “prehistoric” times outside of reality, since history began in Genesis 1; biblically, there is no such thing as “before history”. All ancient civilizations’ history can be found within the Biblical framework of Genesis 11, with the separation of all people by language as the start of them. When we apply Biblical history as the cornerstone instead of the exception, all of history lines up and we see a clearer picture of the Lord’s plan throughout time.

If the beginning of Genesis is not actual history or placed in real time, then we lose focus of reality. We will lose definition for sin and death. When Genesis 1-3 is not seen as history but as an allegorical story, then we lose the focus of the Cross. If death was here on earth long before Adam & Eve’s sin, then the Cross is meaningless. History starting at the beginning is very important to our walk with Christ within eternity. These are things we should not forget and teach to our children, as they have eternal ramifications. Blessings to all of you and may the Lord guide your worldview through the history of His Word.

By Ryan Cox June 18, 2025
Moses & History (part 3)
lined up books
By Matt Miles June 18, 2025
Over the course of time a person can accumulate many things. Most of the stuff we collect is meaningless to most everyone else, but when a person collects books, they can be treasured for a lifetime and even beyond. In this age of digital media, physical books seem to be less important to many people. Digital books are searchable, and copy/paste functions make it easy to use those great quotes. Yet, there is still something great about a physical book, things you can’t get digitally: the turning of pages, the feel of it in your hand, and the “book” smell. For our founder Dr. Sharp, physical books could never be replaced by digital. While my collection of books is growing each year, it is dwarfed by Dr. Sharp’s collection. Over the years he collected thousands of titles for research and enjoyment. Through the course of his ministry he had to sell his book collection a couple of different times to support his family, only to start collecting again when he was able to do so. When Doc passed his office full of packed bookshelves to me and said he would clear the shelves, I laughed out loud at the prospect of having loads of empty bookshelves. So I urged him to instead leave his books for my, and anyone else’s, use. Little did I understand that the four bookcases in my office were only a fraction of his entire collection. A couple of years back when Doc moved from his house, it was decided that his book collection would be stored at the office. Our thought was to establish a library, yet none of us had time to plan, organize and catalog all 79 boxes of books. They sat piled in his office until last year when my daughter Megan joined our ministry. She has a love of books, both reading and writing. So we offered her the task of cataloging and establishing Doc’s library. Can you picture me, a bbq lover, being offered a table full of succulent smoked offerings - brisket, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey and all sides? Yep, that was Megan’s response to the library. For over four months she cataloged and organized the entire collection. The Dr. G. Thomas Sharp Library was completed earlier this year in his old office space, with overflow into my office. The entire 2700+ volume agglomeration is digitally cataloged for searching and locating. As you might expect, there is an extensive collection of creation and evolution subject matter, yet the library is full of many different categories. It very much reflects Doc’s love of gaining knowledge and research. An extensive commentary collection and multiple Biblical reference sections are invaluable to our ministry. There is even a whole bookcase housing books that are over 100 years old. Our desire was not to just house books but to also make a place of honor and inspiration. One wall exhibits Doc’s many diplomas, and throughout the library we have placed personal memorabilia of the mission trips he took over the years. Come, grab a book, relax in the sitting area and allow Doc’s handwritten notes from the margins or post-it notes bring a smile to your face. For those who may be more ambitious, Doc's office chair resides at the credenza for anyone to sit and be inspired to study. This is a place to honor Doc’s life and love for books. We at CTF have already utilized this great resource for further study, and we are so thankful to Diane and their family for donating these books for continued Kingdom growth. Blessings.
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