Life “under the sun” is depressing (Ecclesiastes 1:3,9,14). When life
is seen in an earthbound way, with nothing above and beyond it, there is
no hope, no glimmer of light. The preacher is not saying that this is
the only way we can look at life. He is saying that this way of thinking
about life is a dead-end street. He is inviting us to see the
meaninglessness of a life that is no more than life “under the sun.” He
shows us the hopelessness of life “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes
2:17,20,22). We can never be satisfied by life “under the sun.” There is
always a sense of something more. This dissatisfaction, this longing
for something more, comes from God: “He has put a sense of eternity in
people’s minds” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Life “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes
4:1,3) offers nothing to those who are searching for a real sense of
meaning, purpose and direction.There is an emptiness at the heart of
life “under the sun.” Attempting to find something more, through our own
efforts, is a never-ending task, a fruitless exercise - “trying to
catch the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6,8). We need more than life “under the
sun.”. We need life in the Son. We need the One who came from above -
Jesus Christ, our Saviour. He alone can bring something different into
our life. He brings something lasting - eternal life (1 John 5:11-12).
As we read Ecclesiastes in the context of the whole of Scripture, our
thoughts turn towards another life, a better life - life in the Son.
This is a life that is filled with glorious, heavenly, eternal hope.
Without God, life is hopeless.With Him, life becomes hopeful. By placing
before us these two very different ways of life - life without God and
life with God, Ecclesiastes invites us to choose. We are to choose life -
the life that comes from above, the abundant life, which is the gift of
God’s grace to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ (John 10:10).
When we receive life in the Son, our life is transformed. It is
transformed by the life of Christ - new life, eternal life.
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be ...
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