In 1904, Mississippi, Alabama, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. There were only about 230 murders reported in the entire country. As well in 1904 the average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour. The average worker earned between $200 and $400 per year. A dentist might earn $2,500, a vet about $1,500 and a mechanical engineer close to $5,000. Ninety percent of all physicians had no college education. Instead they attended medical schools, of which many were condemned by the government as being “substandard”.
Again going back 100 years more or less, sugar cost four cents a pound; eggs were fourteen cents a dozen and coffee was fifteen cents a pound (clearly this was long before Starbucks!). The five leading causes of death in the United States were: pneumonia/influenza; tuberculosis; diarrhea; heart disease and stroke. The American flag had only 45 stars., Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii nor Alaska had not been added to the Union. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada had a population of 30. Two of 10 U.S. adults could not read or write. Only about 6% had graduated from high school. Most women washed their hair only once a month and when they did they used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Heroin, marijuana and morphine were available over the counter at the corner drugstore a little over 100 years ago. One pharmacist boasted that “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.” Isn’t it amazing how things have changed in a little over 100 years? It makes one begin to wonder if there is a constant in life? To which the answer is a resounding YES.
“For I, the Lord, do not change..”
(Malachi 3:6)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8)
“For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God. For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord abides forever. And this is the word which was preached to you.”
(1Peter 1:23-25)
Isn’t it comforting to know that there is a constant in life. Neither God nor His Word will ever change. Hold to God’s unchanging
