History buffs who delve into ancient civilizations such as India, China and parts of Southeast Asia (SEA) will discover each place had its time, or times, of Golden Ages. For India, the most golden Golden Age is deemed to have been during the Gupta Dynasty (c. 320-550 CE). For China, there seems to have been several glory days such as during the Han (202 BCE-220 CE), Tang (618-907 CE) and Song (960-1279 CE) Dynasties. In SEA the Khymer Dynasty (800-1432 CE) which spanned several countries we know as Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and southern Vietnam, today, enjoyed their time of golden years.
India is known for its brilliant mathematician Aryabhata's concept of pi, zero and the decimal system; those who more than dabbled in metallurgy constructed the Delhi Pillar out of iron that has not rusted so many years later from wind and rain buffets; and the textile folks introduced cotton to the world. The most amazing one for me was in the medical field, that of early plastic surgery. This came about due to punishments on so-called criminals that would have their ears or noses cut off. The plastic surgeons would repair them.
China was into astronomy and mapped the sun, moon and planets' movements; the famous Zhang Heng keeping careful records. The early seismometer is pretty cool. A ball came out of the urn-like vessel and fell into one of several brass (possibly) frog's open mouth below. This would indicate the earthquake's approximate direction. They also had an early compass (although India also did, it's a toss up); a mechanical clock, paper making, paper money, printing blocks (yes-I know, Gutenberg likes to take credit for first printing press); pottery; porcelain; and textiles (silk was their contribution) among others.
SEA has been a bit trickier to pinpoint but they too can boast of metallurgy, making bronze spear-points; of hydraulic engineering creating dykes, dams, canals, reservoirs to control water supply for irrigating rice paddies, and etc. Batik, an art form of Indonesia and Malaysia, of intricate painting on cloth; many temples, Angkor Wat being the most famous of the lot.
Sadly, such civilizations rise and they fall, even in relatively current times. I've personally experienced such, perhaps not to the huge degree as above, but in miniature, where I've lived for the past couple of decades.
The country I currently reside in just experienced a stunningly, astonishing peaceful revolutionary change of government. The relief and rejoicing was palpable. Citizens were ecstatic. There's great hope for change for the better . Perhaps this country will experience a Golden Age even at this late date.
In Bible times we see a Golden Age during King Solomon's reign (c. 970-931 BCE). During that time he built a temple for God. It was a golden masterpiece and must have been overwhelmingly amazing (1 Kings 7-8). Those who had known the splendor of that temple, which, incidentally, got destroyed, and then saw the one built after they had returned from their captivity in Babylon, cried at the stark difference (Ezra 6:13-18; 3:10-13; and Haggai 2:3-9). Yet their God was still dwelling in the temple. HE was the focus. HE was the reason for the temple in the first place.
Yes, the fact of life remains: there are rises and there are falls of any civilization; it is inevitable. However, they have indubitably left their mark and impact on subsequent generations and civilizations who can improve and refine the inventions and then soar in other areas because of them.
Just think how plastic surgery is taken for granted nowadays. It's really amazing what the surgeons can do. Those who currently monitor earthquake activity can thank their early "colleagues" in China for the seismograph 'gift'. And those who go to the moon or even just putter around space, navigate there because either some Indian or Chinaman invented the compass eons ago.
Of course some inventions have been used for war and that is ugly. That brings us to the whole point of this Lord's Day Devotion.
Due to our sin nature and the sin it produces, we have had great need for an escape or rescue plan. God provided that in sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. He's 'bought' our pardon for us. He has been our atonement and Rescuer. When we followers of Jesus Christ come together to remember Jesus in His death and resurrection, in passing the bread and wine one to another, let us be thankful for what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.
Do you know what a further aspect of this Good News encompasses? Look at Hebrews 12:28 ESV...
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe..."
There will absolutely be no fall for this kingdom of God. It cannot be shaken! It will be magnificent. We will live in His Eternal Golden Age. "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!"
Worship Him. Praise Him. Give thanks to Him.
Our God is an awesome God!
~ERC June 2018~
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