I enjoy rereading things that I wrote long ago. It’s an enlightening exercise. Sometimes it’s clear that my understanding of a particular subject has greatly expanded since I last wrote on it. At other times I realize I may have once felt more strongly about something than I now do.
Some people may believe it doesn’t matter all that much what they once thought. It is true that our current thinking defines who we are. But a blessing comes when we can identify patterns: Do we tend to get excited about things for short periods of time and then lose interest? (Matthew 13:20-21.) Do we focus on trivial things? (1 Corinthians 3:12-15.) Is our consecration slipping? (Hebrews 2:1—I’ve been told the original Greek for “let them slip” suggests “leaking out,” as with bag with holes in it.) Are we now kinder than we once were? (2 Peter 3:18.) These kinds of observations can help keep us on course towards improvement.