Ecclesiastes 3
THE experience of man apart from the knowledge of redemption is continued in this chapter. He concludes that there is a time for everything and every purpose under the heavens and, man must do each in its season: a time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to seek and a time to lose; and so on. And what profit is there in it for man (verse 9)?
God has made everything beautiful in its time, and since they desired not to know Him, He has set the world (the age) in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth (verse 11).
See Romans 1, verses 18 and following, which tell how men turned from God, and, as they did not like (or did not think good) to have God in their knowledge, He gave them up to a reprobate mind, a mind void of moral discernment. It was His purpose that men should yet seek Him, and find Him (Acts 17:25-2725Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:25‑27)), but the world by its wisdom has never known Him (1 Corinthians 2:11-1411For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:11‑14)).
Verses 14 and 15 hold our attention: "I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be forever: there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him. That which is was long ago, and that which is to be, hath already been; and God requireth (or bringeth back) that which is past" (literally, "seeketh what is driven away").
God does not change, though man does. His Word unchangeably stands forever. It declares man's utter and irrecoverable ruin, but man will not admit it. It announces the riches of God's grace in the provision of a glorious Saviour and an eternal home for the redeemed; but man prefers his present lot, though he is told that the outcome will be the judgment of God for eternity. Solemn, too, is the consideration that God requires what is past. Man has ,a conveniently short memory concerning the evil he has done, but God will bring man to account for every idle word spoken. (Matt. 12:3636But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36).)
Ecclesiastes, we must again point out, is not the book of the wisdom of God for man here below, to guide the godly through a wicked world; this we had in the Proverbs. It is the book of man's greatest experience under the sun, apart from the knowledge of redemption. Accordingly there is no looking beyond death (verses 18-22). Men die, and beasts die. All go to one place (as far as man knows anything about it), since all are of the dust and return to dust. Yet there is a realization of something more, for verse 21 indicates that the spirit of man goes upward to God, and that this cannot be the case with the beasts. What becomes of man afterward, he does not know apart from the revelation of God. Thanks be to God, we who trust in the Lord Jesus know that death is not to be the portion of all.-
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment and unto them that look for Him (Christ) shall He appear the second time without sin (apart from the sin question) unto salvation." Hebrews 9:27, 2827And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27‑28). All will not die (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)), and all believers who have died are with the Lord (Philippians 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23); Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)). See John 5:28, 2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29); 1 Corinthians 15:51, 5251Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52); Romans 8:14-17,14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:14‑17) etc.
Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1932