The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ecclesiastes 3:10,
"I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race."
Solomon mentions this "burden" in 1:13-14 as well, "I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
As I read about the burden God has laid on the human race, I can't help but think of Romans 8:18-21, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."
We all come into this world as lost and fallen people because of our sinful condition we have inherited from Adam and Eve, estranged from God and facing his judgment. Because of God's love of mankind, he determined to provide us a way to escape his judgment and join his family where we will experience "joy in your [the Lord's] presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11. This is God's plan of redemption for all mankind.
As a part of pursuing this plan, God has brought us into this world under a burden designed to help us find him, that we be freed from the bondage and decay brought by our own sinful condition, such that we find the freedom and glory of the "children of God."
This is the basis for Jesus' invitation to us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Living this life under the burden of frustrations, troubles and trials has the effect of prompting us to seek help, a Saviour to deliver us.
We all experience this frustration, this burden, because the Lord has designed life "under the sun" in a way to help us find him, meeting us more than half the way. This is why Solomon characterizes this life as meaningless in and of itself - that realization should cause us to seek what lies beyond this life.
Paul speaks of an aspect of this burden, "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 5:4-5.
We may not like the burden. But recognizing it is designed to help us find him, it is a welcome reality in that it is much easier to face than God's horrific judgment.
Solomon mentions this "burden" in 1:13-14 as well, "I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
As I read about the burden God has laid on the human race, I can't help but think of Romans 8:18-21, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."
We all come into this world as lost and fallen people because of our sinful condition we have inherited from Adam and Eve, estranged from God and facing his judgment. Because of God's love of mankind, he determined to provide us a way to escape his judgment and join his family where we will experience "joy in your [the Lord's] presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11. This is God's plan of redemption for all mankind.
As a part of pursuing this plan, God has brought us into this world under a burden designed to help us find him, that we be freed from the bondage and decay brought by our own sinful condition, such that we find the freedom and glory of the "children of God."
This is the basis for Jesus' invitation to us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Living this life under the burden of frustrations, troubles and trials has the effect of prompting us to seek help, a Saviour to deliver us.
We all experience this frustration, this burden, because the Lord has designed life "under the sun" in a way to help us find him, meeting us more than half the way. This is why Solomon characterizes this life as meaningless in and of itself - that realization should cause us to seek what lies beyond this life.
Paul speaks of an aspect of this burden, "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 5:4-5.
We may not like the burden. But recognizing it is designed to help us find him, it is a welcome reality in that it is much easier to face than God's horrific judgment.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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