Time ‐ Eternity — Ecclesiastes 3:1–2, 11, 17
When to do what? Timing?
Solomon writes a series of contrasting things that there is a time for:
Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 (NIV84):
“1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot…”
Then he writes:
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV84): “He 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.”
God has made everything beautiful in its time. Hmmm, like pain and joy, like life and death.
Then, he contrasts the reality of the temporary with our deep longing for the eternal. “He has put eternity in our hearts.”
This deep longing for the eternal was given to us by God.
Then, he writes about his deep frustration with the lack of justice on this earth. But he realizes that eternity will be different.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 (NIV84):
“I thought in my heart,
‘God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.'”
Our eternity will be based on how we spend our time here. True justice will be metered out as we will all have to give an account to God as we enter eternity.
What are am I doing with my time? How am I accepting the things that are in my time? Am I understanding the “timing” of things?
Can I say with Solomon, God has made all things beautiful in its time? How is this longing for true justice and this reality put in me of the eternal affecting my heart and decisions today?
