| Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; II Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19
“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart…
In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil. Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them…
There is certainly no righteous man on the earth who does good and never sins. Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you; for you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2, 15-18, 20-21)
I think we all take things for granted. We have a tendency to think this world is all we have and that we’ll be here forever. Many people disrespect God with their time because they waste it. We put God on the back burner thinking that tomorrow will always be there. There is no sufficient fear or respect for God in many of our hearts.
We squander our lives trying to live up to some obscene standard that no one can ever obtain. We shorten our lives with the stress of trying. On the other end of the spectrum, we have folks that flat out don’t even try. They just live any ol’ way and put themselves in harm’s way and end up dying prematurely. The preacher is trying to tell us that we are to live righteously balanced, knowing that no one is perfect but yet not intentionally, habitually sinning. We can do this if we will just love God. Think about it. If we love someone, we don’t have to force ourselves to spend time with them. We don’t have to try to do right by them, we want to. It helps to know that our righteousness is in Christ and our dependence is upon Him.
Sometimes we act as though we are the star of this show when in reality, we are only extras, God is the star. Can you imagine inviting everyone over to see you in YOUR movie. Everyone gets seated and right in the middle of a crowded scene you shout, “There I am. That is the back of my head.” Everyone missed it, so you back up the DVD, pause it and run it again. It happens in a split second and no one can see the big deal except for you. That’s kind of like life. The only person consistent throughout history is God. He is the star of this long running video. It’s all about Him, not us. We are basically unimportant except to him and those few who genuinely love us. He is what makes us significant.
Our lives are like vapor. Any one of us could die today in any manner of death. Good person, bad person, our end is the same. If you know the Lord, then actually the day of your death will be a better day than your birth. We come into this world and live through so many hardships. When we pass on through death we are greeted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We no longer have the limitations of this physical body, we don’t have the struggles we have now, we don’t have to be taught because we will know and understand. It’s just a glorious day really. Maybe we are afraid of death because in the back of our minds we are unsure of what’s on the other side. I know it hurts to let someone go but if we truly believe the Word of God why would we ever want to hold someone here.
PRAYER:
Lord, I love You and I am developing a true sense of respect for who You are and the power You hold. Father, You paint magnificent sunsets and have created every manner of animal that has ever existed. You hold the lives of multitudes. The galaxies are contained in the span of Your hand. Truly, what is man that You are mindful of him. I thank You that You have allowed me to be an extra in Your movie. I pray to be the best extra that I know how, that this life You have given me will be pleasing in Your sight. Forgive my arrogance Lord, I know it’s not about me at all. Your faithful servant prays this in Jesus’ name, amen. |
