Time and Eternity

We were not created by chance, God created us for His glorious purpose. He wants us to serve Him, appreciate His work, manage His resources well and care for others. He is the beginning and works through the time to sustain our lives and give us the expected end. Ecclesiastes 3:14 - I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. These followings are discussed: A Time for everything; Eternity in our Hearts, and God's sovereignty and Human Mortality.

A Time for everything: We plan with 'time and set targets to achieve results within a specified period of time. Time marks the division between the beginning and the end of life events (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3). The book of Ecclesiastes invites us to understand purpose of living and divine attributes about life. God gives us the life to pursue His eternal purpose and provides earthly resources as His free gifts. If we fail to appreciate Him our accomplishments are meaningless. We must allow God to direct our steps and guide us through our actions. Life situations often follow God's plan, therefore we should see Him through our situations. If we find ourselves in the mood of rejoicing we should not look down on others who have different experience.

Likewise if we are down and it seems things are not working well as we could have expected we should not be overwhelmed and become depressed. We should look up to God and allow His Spirit to lead us through shifting circumstances. Life is full of changes only God never changes, and can give lasting joy and peace. During the season of joy we should not be selfish and forget about the needs of others. Likewise we should not forget about God's promise during our season of sorrow. He will strengthen and help us grow spiritually during the process.

Eternity in Our Hearts: God's purpose for our lives aims to help us through life and prepare us for eternal life. We can't just gain eternal life without doing what He demands of us. God assigns responsibilities to those who are made His people. As part of His divine plan He promised to make every component of life beautiful in its own time (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13). God's provision of eternity is not far off, it has already been placed in our hearts because we believe and live by His truth.

God has placed knowledge of His existence and divine acts in us. His eternal purpose for our lives can not be understood by sense and reasoning, it is beyond human explanation (Ecclesiastes 3:14). His divine power requires deep spiritual reverence to understand. God's purpose of life and His eventual judgement are as described. The only way people will not be found wanting during the judgment is by satisfying the required standard of holiness through saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

God Sovereignty and Human Mortality: We may not like to think about death, but it is an inevitable end of our existence on earth; knowing it's reality should help us set priorities for living (Ecclesiastes 9:1-6). Our wealth, position and achievements can not stop death. While we are alive and have the grace to enjoy God's free gifts we should live with purpose. The dead could not do anything again about life, and nothing can be done by those who are alive to help the dead. God will evaluate all lives and judge people according to their deeds while on earth. There is much to life after death, people should should live according to God's purpose if they want to make eternal life.

Prayers can no longer work for the dead, they will remain unconscious in the grave until they are raised to face the judgement, nothing again can be added or removed from their earthly records (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10). Life had been lived and the record book closed. The life after death will offer blessing and curse, eternal reward and eternal judgement, and all people shall be rewarded according to their deeds. lesson texts: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; 9 1-10