Thursday, May 22, 2008

On Ecclesiastes 3:11

This morning I read the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon. In verse 11, he wrote,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

The word beautiful means "appropriate and helpful." Everything that God has made, everything that he does, everything that He permits, is appropriate and helpful. This, of course, means that all of our sufferings will ultimately benefit us and glorify God.

God put eternity in our hearts. All our hearts. We were created for God’s eternal purpose. Nothing else under the sun will bring us satisfaction. Nothing. Life under the sun, as Solomon discovered, is filled with all kinds of pleasures. But none of these pleasures can fulfill the desire our heart has for God.

God has not given us the answers to every question. Life is full of mystery. Solomon advised us to accept the good things in life with gratitude, and to face the difficulties of life with faith instead of despair.

In the end, we are all accountable to God. Solomon's ultimate advice, at the end of the twelfth chapter is to "fear God and keep His commandments."

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