“And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter—
On the side of their oppressors there is power,
But they have no comforter.
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, NKJV
But they have no comforter—
On the side of their oppressors there is power,
But they have no comforter.
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, NKJV
An objective study of the book of Ecclesiastes does wonders for a bad case of living for this life. Solomon really doesn't leave any stones unturned - and everything he turns up is another nail in the coffin of satisfaction in this world. All is vanity (that is, absurdity, nonsense, futility) and grasping for the wind. Solomon already laid out the reasons that this life - no matter what you try to do - is futile. Now it gets worse. Not only is this life futile, it's evil! Look around you! Turn on the news! Open a history book! Look at yourself, look at the people around you - there's no getting away from the fact that the natural state of mankind is one of evil desires and evil deeds. Therefore Solomon praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are alive; but better was the one who never existed, because he never had to see the evil work done under the sun or experience judgment upon his own evil deeds.
Here are the facts: this life ends in death. Prior to death you will never satisfy the longing of your soul no matter what means you attempt or how high you go. During your brief span of life you will see mostly evil under the sun. When you die you will leave behind everything you labored for and your memory will soon be forgotten. Eventually even the universe itself will die.
Let those facts sink in and Solomon's words in verses 1-3 don't seem harsh at all.
But here is the truth: God is real, God is sovereign, and God is not dead. Mankind used the free will God gave him to corrupt himself and the creation given to him, but God in His mercy determined before the foundation of the world the way mankind would be redeemed. At the cost of His beloved and sinless Son He paid the price required to satisfy His perfect justice so that we could be forgiven. If Christ's willing sacrifice on our behalf is appropriated by the free will of the individual, we are saved out of death and judgment, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God. The separation between man and God caused by our sin is broken down and the longing of our souls may finally be satisfied by the only One who will ever satisfy it – God Himself. This life goes from being one of vanity and grasping for the wind to one of purpose and value, because the Lord has a plan for each one of His children in this world and He has prepared an infinite and glorious inheritance for us in the world to come. The child of God also knows that the evil presently under the sun is temporary, and will soon be done away with forever. He knows that the suffering he may experience in this life is nothing in comparison to the glory of what is to come, and that his trials are even being used for his good and blessing. He has certain hope and an unshakable foundation, and his heart is filled with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Life in denial of God...life blessed with a relationship with God. Compare the two. One is death. The other is life, and life abundantly. Which one you want is your choice.
Here are the facts: this life ends in death. Prior to death you will never satisfy the longing of your soul no matter what means you attempt or how high you go. During your brief span of life you will see mostly evil under the sun. When you die you will leave behind everything you labored for and your memory will soon be forgotten. Eventually even the universe itself will die.
Let those facts sink in and Solomon's words in verses 1-3 don't seem harsh at all.
But here is the truth: God is real, God is sovereign, and God is not dead. Mankind used the free will God gave him to corrupt himself and the creation given to him, but God in His mercy determined before the foundation of the world the way mankind would be redeemed. At the cost of His beloved and sinless Son He paid the price required to satisfy His perfect justice so that we could be forgiven. If Christ's willing sacrifice on our behalf is appropriated by the free will of the individual, we are saved out of death and judgment, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God. The separation between man and God caused by our sin is broken down and the longing of our souls may finally be satisfied by the only One who will ever satisfy it – God Himself. This life goes from being one of vanity and grasping for the wind to one of purpose and value, because the Lord has a plan for each one of His children in this world and He has prepared an infinite and glorious inheritance for us in the world to come. The child of God also knows that the evil presently under the sun is temporary, and will soon be done away with forever. He knows that the suffering he may experience in this life is nothing in comparison to the glory of what is to come, and that his trials are even being used for his good and blessing. He has certain hope and an unshakable foundation, and his heart is filled with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Life in denial of God...life blessed with a relationship with God. Compare the two. One is death. The other is life, and life abundantly. Which one you want is your choice.
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