Learning Forever

My Grandfather always said and my Dad oft repeated,
"Learn something new everyday.'

Each day I try to look up that particular date on Wikipedia
and use that as a jumping point to learn something new.

For example, on this day in 27 BC, Octavianus was conferred by the Roman Senate with the titles 'Augustus' ("the Illustrious One" - as to his divine authority) and 'Princeps' ("the First Head" - as to his sovereign authority). He further styled himself 'Imperator Caesar divi filius' or 'Commander Caesar divine son' referring to his adoptive 'father' Gaius Julius Caesar, who was killed by Roman Senators fearful of the absolute powers Caser might have declared unto himself even though they kept declaring power unto him.

HAIL!!! Imperator Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Divi Filius Augustus, now Supreme Ruler of Imperial Rome and the World.

"People of Rome, we are once again free."
"Ista quidem vis est!" [Why, this is violence!]

***
Everyday no matter what new thing I learn,
I learn a few things over and over again:

1) the same things have a tendency to happen again & again throughout history & our lives - even (and especially) if we try to prevent them

2) no matter how much we learn or develop ourselves or our society, we are still completely ignorant of most everything else even if we think we rule our little world

5) everybody dies, all kingdoms end, no person reigns supreme (for long), wars will rage on, and all people are flawed & foolish

***
To me, Octavian's greatest claim to fame is that he was briefly granted supreme power over the Mediterranean region, including a little backwoods hasmich called Judea, such that when as Augustus he ordered all his subjects to be registered for his own petty governmental purposes, he was really just causing the still pregnant mother of the real ruler and sovereign King of all to go to Bethlehem so as to fulfill God's prophetic revelation of Himself and His Son Jesus Christ.

God's majesty, Christ's grace and the Spirit's power are amazingly displayed throughout history and the lives of people. The question is whether we will look to our own momentary fame in this short life, maybe even by attempting to establish a legacy for ourselves or if we will embrace the everlasting glory of eternal life by acknowledging Christ's truth, which He has been working out from before creation and throughout time until He will fulfill His purposes.