Word for the Day

                               Religion says, 

            "I obey; therefore I am accepted."

                            Christianity says, 

              "I'm accepted; therefore I obey."

                                    Timothy Keller

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars are dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs start to tremble, and your shoulders stoop. Remember him before your teeth stop grinding; and before your eyes see dimly.” - Ecclesiastes 12:2-3 ^NLT

            Once we are born, we begin our slow march toward death. While a rather morose way of looking at life, in reality it is quite true. It seems like our time on earth is so long, yet time goes so very quickly that before you know it you are old, and you wonder where all the time went. That is the dilemma of those who wait to serve the Lord. You say to yourself “I will commit my life to God another day”, but you are not promised another day.

The phrase “seize the day” applies here. It literally means to “do the things you want to do when you have the chance instead of waiting for a later time.” * More specifically, serve God NOW as opposed to tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

The verses 2-5 can be taken allegorically or literally. These verses represent what happens to a person as they age. It is implying that one can wait so long to commit their life to God that they may no longer have the desire or ability to make that commitment. It can be a terrible thing to realize that all you’ve accomplished in your life has essentially amounted to nothing and all that you could have done in Christ’s name was left undone. One should never wait to do that which can be done today. Commit your way to the Lord and realize your full potential in God. Recognize what your spiritual gifts are and use them. Don’t wait until it is too long. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, ‘Life is not pleasant anymore.’”- Ecclesiastes 12:1 ^NLT

            Is it better to become saved at an early age or later in life? Actually, you could make a case for both. Giving your life over to Christ early on in life secures your place in God’s family and seals your eternal destination. There is the issue that arises with many young people who grow up in the church … that being wondering what they are missing. Looking at it retrospectively you realize you weren’t missing anything of value and certainly nothing of eternal value, but some folks simply need to find out for themselves. This is what Solomon did. 

While becoming a believer later in life affords you the opportunity to experience life in the world, it’s like playing with fire … you could get burnt. The devil is absolutely NOT our friend and while the things of this world may look enticing, they are nothing but baubles, cheap imitations of the real thing that God offers. A person wastes valuable time living for the kingdom by dabbling in the world. 

Solomon is building up to his crescendo, which is at the end of this book. He has now begun to incorporate God as he builds up to his final conclusion. He speaks from experience, having married multiple wives, and availed himself of all the pleasures of this life. Having enjoyed such things he realizes what he had strayed from and therefore what he was missing. Everything aside from the Lord is meaningless. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for you and vigor are meaningless*.” - Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 ^NIV

            It’s interesting how when we are young, we tend to think many things simply don’t matter. We didn’t take a whole lot serious in our younger years, did we? But have you ever thought that things we did then can have an impact on our life today? Many of the choices we make are irreversible and can affect us forever. How many of the decisions we make are based on selfishness? I would venture to say far too many. I know mine tend to be. When we make these decisions, I have a feeling eternity is the farthest thing from our minds.

            Solomon cautions his readers not to do anything of a physical, moral, or spiritual nature that may prevent them from enjoying life in their later years. There are so many things one can do in this life to enjoy themselves without stepping on another’s toes or disobeying the statutes of God. We should also not be the one who rains on another’s parade by pretending to be the moral police. Those are two extremes: being morally extreme and being morally lax. 

            Christians stand before the Bema or Mercy Seat of Christ. This is where we all give an accounting of what we’ve done for the kingdom in Christ’s name. It is at that time that we receive our rewards. Those who stand before Almighty God at the White Throne Judgment are the ones who never received God’s glorious gift of forgiveness with entrance into eternity with Him forever. Here those whose names aren’t found in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into a Lake of Fire forever with no chance of redemption. That is not meant to frighten anyone, just make you away that if you think God will not judge man for his indiscretions is sadly mistaken. Be in a constant state of readiness, for no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s Return. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

* Transitory, idle, empty, and devoid of truth.