Sometimes the days seem to stretch on without end, yet the old saying still holds its ground: “everything must come to an end.” That truth applies not only to the events that fill our calendars but also to our lives themselves. My dad was not a Bible scholar, but he had a way of summarizing deep truth in a single line. He often said, “and this too shall come to pass.” History quietly agrees with him. Civilizations rise and fall with a regular rhythm that would almost be predictable if it were not so sobering. Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and many others have all taken their turn on the stage. Because our own lives unfold in such a short span within a single era, it is easy to think things will continue as they are. Yet history reminds us that what feels permanent often is not. Even the things we assume will last, like that box of leftovers in the refrigerator, have a way of proving otherwise.
Jeremiah gives us insight into why even great nations fall. The decline of Israel was not random or accidental. It was tied directly to its rebellion against the God who had formed and sustained it. From its early days in Egypt to its strength under Solomon, Israel experienced both blessing and collapse. Jeremiah 4:28 records the seriousness of that fall: “For this, the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark; for I have spoken; I have purposed; I have not relented, nor will I turn back.” That is a sobering picture. In our daily lives, we may not be managing empires, but we still wrestle with the same tendencies. We drift, we forget, and we occasionally act as if we are in charge of outcomes that clearly belong to God. History, both ancient and personal, gently reminds us that our plans are not always as sturdy as we imagine. The rise and fall of nations mirrors the smaller patterns we see in our own lives.
The New Testament, especially through Luke’s writings, shows that history is not a random collection of events but the unfolding of God’s purpose. As James Montgomery Boice observed, Luke is not merely recording the story of the early church but revealing that history has a plan. Scripture says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4). History moves toward Christ and finds its meaning in Him. Jesus stands at the center, drawing people into a new fellowship and shaping lives for His glory. He also promises, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). The rise and fall of nations, the passing of days, and even our own brief lives are part of a larger story. As the saying goes, all history is His story. God has spoken, and He will not turn back. In Christ, what must come to pass leads not to uncertainty, but to a future shaped by His unchanging purpose.