Category: Ecclesiastes-BibleTrekToday
Day 2–A Time for Everything
Scripture reading for April 7: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; . . . “
Time use is a vital subject for those volunteering their time and energy to help hurting people. All our lives are busy with jobs, family, friends, hobbies, church and clubs. We must do all the regular tasks of our daily lives, and then be available to respond suddenly to other’s immediate needs. We willingly put off whatever task we were involved in and briefly join someone in a season of hurt. We need God’s help discerning the times and seasons of our lives and those that others are experiencing.
God’s ancient Words coming through Solomon about three thousand years ago can help us with priorities. Solomon stated that there are seasons for everything. A season is a part of the year with certain specific characteristics to determine what activities we can participate in. For example, it’s winter here in Kansas and it is not the season of planting or harvest. In the seasons, there are set times that work best for certain activities. As we grow in wisdom, we can understand God’s ways and cooperate with Him in the season we are in.
From His Word, we come to see that God sets the seasons and times of life for each person. We can’t rush these seasons, but must wait on them and then take advantage of the time for various activities. When we lack understanding, we can ask God to help us discern what to do in the present season and time. We can rest that He sets the times and seasons of each person.
Prayer: Father, it is humbling that You have set the seasons and times of our lives and that there is enough time for each activity under the sun. Help me not to rush through each day but to enjoy the time you give me and the season I am in. Help me to be mindful of Your timing in the lives of those going through difficult seasons. Amen.
Escaping death and judgment
Scripture reading for April 11: John 5
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”” John 5:24-29
Our world view concerning death and the after-life is determined by many things. We all have eternity in our hearts, given by God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We have a conscience that gives us basic knowledge of God’s laws, acting like a stop light inside of our souls. Various religions teach different ideas about the afterlife and judgment and like a consumer, we can pick and choose what we think is best for us. So the prevailing world view is that there are many paths all leading to the same goal–peace and joy in the afterlife. If that is true, there is no need to repent of any belief we currently hold.
Jesus came to proclaim the Good News of eternal life through faith in Himself. He boldly proclaimed the Father’s Word that whoever would hear His Word and believe in the Father Who sent Him, would not come into judgment but have eternal life. They would actually pass from death through God’s wrath under His righteous judgment to eternal life. They would participate in the resurrection of life in that final hour when in their graves, they would hear God’s voice and arise to eternal life. This offer was to ‘whoever’ would hear His voice now and believe in the Father! Those who refused Jesus’ call now would be judged by Him and hear His voice calling them forth from the grave to stand judgment.
Have you heard the voice of the Son of God calling you to repentance and eternal life? When would you prefer to hear the voice of Jesus: Now or at the hour of His judgment? Does it shock you to learn that the One Who offers you salvation through His Word will also be your judge if you don’t listen to Him?
Prayer: Thank You Father, for sending Your Son and giving Him as a sacrifice for our sins. I have heard His voice through God’s Word and believed Him receiving eternal life. I look forward to hearing His voice call me into His eternal kingdom when He comes again. Use me to encourage others to believe. Amen.
The answer to life’s meaning!
Scripture reading for July 13: Ecclesiastes 7-12
This quest of Solomon to find meaning is played out every day in our world. People are going to and fro seeking pleasure, wisdom, meaning and purpose in life under the sun. They are trying wine, women, sports, building, materialism, and fame to find happiness and fulfillment. Many are laughing and appearing to have fun, but it is shallow and meaningless. Many are in bondage to sins of the flesh and are miserable. They go from one form of bondage to another looking for that elusive fulfillment that can only be found in God Himself!
Solomon tells us that the day of death is better than the day of birth. Death takes away every man and their works will stand judgment. Being mindful of this should give us motivation for righteous living here and now. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right all the time and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:10; Romans 3:23) Solomon found that God had made men upright, but that men in their folly had gone in search of many schemes! (Ecclesiastes 7:29) How true of man throughout history and today!
No man knows when the hour of his end will come. Things don’t always turn out according to a movie script where the good guy wins and the evil person is destroyed! “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) No one really knows the future or what it holds. Accidents can come suddenly and death can snatch us from this life without warning! “As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:12)
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails–given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of the making of many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad.” Ecclesiastes 12:11-13
Solomon concludes his book with a simple warning. Have you found true meaning in life here on earth? Are you still searching in all the wrong places? Turn to Jesus Christ today and ask Him for mercy and a new beginning! He lovingly took the penalty for your sins and offers you eternal life in Father’s house!
Life is meaningless without God!
Scripture reading for July 12: Ecclesiastes 1-6
If you try to make sense of life without God in you heart or mind, there is only one term that consistently comes to mind: meaningless! Life is hard to make sense of without God’s Word or knowledge. Man is left with darkness in his understanding and the futility of life under the sun. It appears that we come about by accident and leave earth by calamity or slow death. Some live short lives and others relatively long lives. Some are blessed and others struggle with troubles and pain. Life is fleeting and hopeless.
Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus Christ, decided to try to find meaning in life by pursuing riches, fame, and fortune. The account of his search was the book of Ecclesiastes! Solomon found no meaning in endless days of toil and work of man. He observed that there was nothing really new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1: 9-11) We spend our time working and gathering and death takes us away. In a few years or less, no one remembers us or what we have done!
Solomon tried to find meaning with the pursuit of pleasure and things that brought laughter. He tried wine and folly but found meaninglessness! He then tried great building projects to find satisfaction. He built houses and planted vineyards and fruit orchards. He built lakes and had many servants. His herds and flocks were numerous and his treasury filled with silver and gold. He hired singers and entertainers and even bought a harem of beautiful women to enjoy as he pleased. He had no lack of anything his heart desired and he enjoyed his labor but it too was meaningless! (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
Solomon noted that all his hard work would be left behind when he died and given to someone else who did not work for it. This was a hard thing to grasp. (Ecclesiastes 3:21-23) His conclusion was that if man would eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work each day, that was a gift of God. Without God, we can’t find meaning or enjoyment! (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
“He (God) 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) Solomon concludes that God has made a time for everything under the sun. These times are in His hands and man must accept that with gratitude. Man has an inner knowledge of eternity. Each knows that he is an eternal being who will be judged by God one day. But because of sin, we cannot understand without God’s help.
Is your life ‘meaningless’ and without purpose? Have you tried everything for pleasure and meaning except Jesus Christ? Today is the day to find true meaning and eternal pleasures in Him! Praise the Lord!
The King on His Holy Throne!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 22, Psalm 110, Ecclesiastes 12
Revelation 22: 1-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
The end of the matter has been recorded by the King and sent to us through the apostle John from his visit to the throne room of heaven. The King reigns in Zion over all His enemies! We were all once His enemies, but have been made righteous by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings! His Name is on our foreheads! God provides for all the water of Life, flowing as love from His Son’s eternal throne. The nations are healed of their enmity through the Tree of Life and nothing accursed will ever be found again. The night is gone and the Lamb is our eternal Lamp! We have been given grace to be transformed from ‘enemies of God’ to ruling sons and daughters, reigning with Christ Jesus forever and ever! Amen!
Psalm 110:1-2 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion Your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”
Prayer: Father God, I respond to this revelation of the end by holy reverence, awe, and worship! You have done it all! You have provided eternal life to me, an enemy, through grace! You have saved me from the judgment by paying for my sins through Jesus’ shed blood. You heal me and make me holy and give me a place in Your eternal family and holy city! You are my Light, my Life, and my Salvation forever and ever!
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Conquer by faith or die!
Scripture reading for December 28th: Revelation 21, Psalm 109, Ecclesiastes 11
Revelation 21: 5-8 “And He Who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these Words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. which is the second death.”
There is a glorious throne in Heaven, with One seated on it holding all power and authority to do as He pleases. When He speaks, His Words are trustworthy and true. We can write them down and act on them by faith. John heard God speak and command him to write down the Words of God. “It is done!” Everything necessary for salvation has been accomplished! Those who live by faith and trust in God’s Word and His Son, the Word made flesh, will have an eternal reward. They will be allowed to drink of the spring of the water of Life eternal by God’s grace alone! They will know adoption into God’s forever family as full-fledged sons and daughters! Those who shrink back in fear or rebellion to God’s laws, will suffer eternal destruction in the Lake of fire. This is the second death from which there will be no escape.
Psalm 109:30-31 “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.”
Prayer: Father God, You Alone have provided for such a wonderful salvation! Thank You Lord, I boast in Your amazing grace through Jesus Christ! In Him, I am more than a conqueror! His love and mercy have delivered my soul from falling into the eternal fires of judgment and condemnation! I have the water of Life eternal and God as my Father and Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! I am blessed beyond measure!
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God Who makes everything.”
The Thousand-year Reign of Jesus!
Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 20, Psalm 108, Ecclesiastes 10
Revelation 20: 4-6 “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
Following the return of the King of Kings, John observes the binding and imprisonment of Satan in the pit, locked away for a thousand years. Then thrones for judgment were set up and the souls of the martyrs came to life and reigned with Jesus Christ for the thousand years. These who were restored to life were part of what Scripture calls the ‘first resurrection.” This first resurrection company had remained true to Jesus Christ, even unto death and were rewarded with priesthood and rulership along with Christ in the kingdom of peace established by Him on the earth. Death did not have the final say! Faith in Jesus Christ will bring deliverance and full reward! Happy is the land that has the Son for King!
Psalm 108:5-6 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! That Your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer me!”
Prayer: Father God, we Your people long for the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings! We long for peace and justice on earth, as only You can give. We pray that Jesus Christ be exalted over all the earth and His glory will fill the heavens and earth as He restores His people to their full salvation! How blessed and holy are those who will share in this first resurrection!
Ecclesiastes 10:17 “Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!”
Behold the King of kings!
Scripture reading for December 26th: Revelation 19, Psalm 107, Ecclesiastes 9
Revelation 19:11-15 “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a Name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a Name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.
As John’s visit to heaven comes to a climax, he hears a great multitude in heaven crying out in worship to God for His great power, salvation and glory, and for the justice and judgments poured out on the earth and on those who killed the saints. It was a time of great celebration and rejoicing, as this great multitude prepared for the marriage of the Lamb! The Bride was ready, clothed in pure white linen. John was told specifically to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” After this, heaven was opened and John beheld a white horse, and the Rider, the Lamb of God, clothed in a blood-dipped robe and having a sharp sword coming from His mouth. He is coming with the armies of heaven, clothed in white linen–His Bride! His title is written on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Psalm 107:42-43 “The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this amazing vision given to John for Your people of all generations! I look forward to Your return and to being part of the bridal company! I have heard the Gospel invitation and humbly accepted Your steadfast covenant love for eternity! I wait patiently for Jesus Christ and the white horse of my King of kings! Open doors for me to share this Good News today that all may hear!
Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 “The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”
Gone up in smoke!
Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 18, Psalm 106, Ecclesiastes 8
Revelation 18:8-10 “For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God Who has judged her. And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.””
John saw another shining angel come down from heaven and illuminating the earth. This angel decreed the fall of Babylon the great. From these verses, we understand that Babylon represents the great demonic religious and economic system of Satan that has taken men on earth captive through immorality and greed. Another voice spoke from heaven, calling God’s people to come out before the final collapse. The decree is that in a single day Babylon will fall due to God’s judgment and His power to exercise it. In fact, in one hour, Babylon goes up in smoke! All vanity of man and rebellion of Satan is reduced to ashes and smoke! No one on earth will have the power to stand on that day without Jesus Christ as Lord.
Psalm 106:10-12 “So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed His Words; they sang His praise.”
Prayer: Father God, I take heed to these words of warning given to Your people. Those living by faith in Your Word hear Your heart and understand how temporary are the vanities of earth and how our power to save ourselves is futile. Use me today to warn those of Your people of Your coming judgments and their need to come out of the wicked world system that relies on human greed and pride.
Ecclesiastes 8:8-9 “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.”
The drunken prostitute
Scripture reading for December 22nd: Revelation 17, Psalm 105, Ecclesiastes 7
Revelation 17:1-6 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute, who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
John encountered one of the seven angels who had poured out the bowls of wrath on the earth. This angel invited John to see the judgment of the great prostitute who was seated on many waters. Earlier, we found that the waters were the peoples of earth. This prostitute had committed ‘sexual immorality’ with the kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth. The immorality represents acts of rebellion against God, His Word and His people. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and impurity. In fact, John saw that this prostitute was drunk on the blood of God’s saints and martyrs! (Remember the night of the fall of the Babylonian empire described in Daniel chapter five.) This ‘woman’ is the world system of humanism and self-gratification, named “Babylon the great” . She defiles everything, offering intoxicating and defiling pleasures that kill and destroy. She has lived in luxury, but now suddenly falls under God’s wrath.
Psalm 105:7-8 “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the Word that He commanded, for a thousand generations, . . .”
Holy Father, I thank You that You are Lord of Heaven and Earth and my Lord. I thank You that all vengeance and justice belong to You Alone and You will judge justly those who have rebelled against You and mistreated Your people and murdered them. Use me to warn those still under the sway of the seductive prostitute. May none perish in Your wrath, but may they come to repentance and life.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 “And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.”