The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ecclesiastes 1:15,
"What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted."
Solomon speaks to a hard, cold reality that some simply run from: the futility of what we face in this life. He makes clear what his perspective is in the preceding verse. There he says, "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." As Solomon speaks, he does so from the perspective of this life. This life, "under the sun" is futile. "What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted."
As Solomon continues in his presentation, he amply demonstrates why this life, from the perspective of this life (again, "under the sun") is filled with futility. Without shying away from the realities we all encounter in this life, he points to a secret that few know.
This secret is that all of those things we think will bring us happiness and fulfillment in this life (life under the sun) do not deliver. "If I could only find a wife", "If I could only get into this college", "If I could only get this promotion" or "that job". "If I could only make more money", "get the toys I want", have what my friend or neighbor has (that "grass is greener" thing...). We think these will bring happiness. Solomon, uniquely qualified and equipped to investigate such, found that happiness and fulfillment are not found in any of those things.
Ultimately, Solomon points to the end game as to why this life is so futile: we all die. No matter what we accumulate, what we accomplish, we die and others take the helm. What we sought to accomplish gets pushed to the side just as we did with what others pursued before us. Life is futile.
The purpose of Solomon's book is not without great merit. It prepares us for the new covenant. When we realize that the happiness and fulfillment that we yearn for is not to be found in this life, we begin to look elsewhere. Here is where the gospel comes into play. We are told that we have a wonderful inheritance that awaits us in the resurrection if we but place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. As believers this inheritance is secured for us - guaranteed, something we can count on. It is certain and its value never diminishes. In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.
Solomon is preparing us for the gospel message as he speaks to the futility of life under the sun. The exciting news in the gospel is the happiness and fulfillment we often strive for in this world of futility is found freely in him! And... how much greater is that happiness and fulfillment we will find with our Creator God when we enter into all he designed us for!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment