(Ecclesiastes 3:1-22)
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of mankind with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him. 15 That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God seeks what has passed by.
16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there. 18 I said to myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves.” 19 For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. 21 Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of mankind with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him. 15 That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God seeks what has passed by.
16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there. 18 I said to myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves.” 19 For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. 21 Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
There are some people who prefer to believe in evolution which says that we are all here by accident so we just have to make the best of our time right now. And in this theory one's value and fate would be the same as any animal.
And while people have a sense that they are meant to live forever, they are on the constant hunt for perpetual youth and/or a pathway to some sort of utopia, trying to do the best they can in their own strength and wisdom.
Yet, people without God will continue searching in vain for things to fulfill them, and give them a sense of purpose and belonging. But nothing of this world will ever satisfy, and it will never be enough, because all of it is only temporary and fallible.
So where is our hope found? Even though many will reject Him, the Lord gives all of us free choice. But with free choice, there has to be options; and with options, there has to be a freedom to act upon our choices. So, for now, we do live in a very fallen, broken world. We are all born with a sinful nature, in need of saving.
This is our only hope! The Lord Jesus! He is the only answer to the pursuit of eternal life, joy and purpose! The Lord desires that all people come to know Him, because He is a God of love, and desires to have a personal relationship with us. In this, and only in this, we will be fulfilled and satisfied, because only God is eternal, infallible and unchanging. So then, when we develop relationships with others who also have a personal relationship with Jesus, these will be stronger and deeper.
In God's sovereignty, nothing happens without Him allowing it to happen. And because He is all-knowing, He knows exactly who will put their faith in Him. Therefore, God will never will allow anyone to die before they have had fair opportunity to make a decision, and have made their decision. Also, if there is something that someone is to do while here on earth, the Lord will never allow that person to die before their time. So, while we are still here on earth, we have to know that God has a purpose for us!
While there is a time and place for everything, God will give us the wisdom and guidance to know exactly what it is we should be doing. But always, we are to hate sin and injustice. And always, we are to fear and love God, and then love people.
In our godly relationships that we will find with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will cry and mourn together, and we will dance and celebrate together, for and to God's glory, because everything we have is a gift from Him! And while there will be good times, there will be various times of tests, trials and temptations, but the Lord will always be with us to give wisdom and guide us. And as we strive to live obediently in His will and in His strength, He will continue to bless us with fulfillment, purpose, peace and joy.
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