Have you ever asked that question? Whether before or after a test. Or maybe while you were preparing to leave for an appointment or trip. Some have even asked that question after a life threatening diagnosis. But the real question that we should all be asking is not how much time we have, but what are we doing with the time we do have. None of us know the time of our departure from this earth. But we’ve all been given enough of it to make preparation to meet our Maker.
Most people do believe in God, but serving Him is a whole different story. But to hear them talk, heaven is automatic to everyone who dies. Not so fast. Believing that there is a God is noble, belief without acceptance is useless to that life. The Bible says without faith it’s impossible to please God, those who come to God must believe that He is who He says He is, and that He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
There are some who think speaking or even planning for death is morbid, but it’s as important as living. No matter how it comes, where we spend eternity should be just as important as any other plans we make. We spend so much time planning to live that we forget about planning to die.
The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, had more wealth, toys and women than one could hope for, yet nothing he had brought him joy when he walked away from God. He called everything vanity. He learned that a life void of a relationship with God was an empty life. No matter how much stuff we acquire, it cannot satisfy the God-sized void in our lives.
Let’s listen in on Solomon’s observation of a life off the rails. Wisdom in reverse. This is a lesson to all of us, to never forget about the God who blesses us or put our confidence in the blessings instead of the Blesser. He had everything but was miserable. He had allowed his lust for godless women to take him off course. All the money in the world could not satisfy or take the place of God in his life.
“There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then He doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.”
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 NLT
I guess Solomon was bemoaning the fact that someone else was going to enjoy his vast wealth. Here he’s claiming God gives wealth but doesn’t let the recipients enjoy it. He certainly did. So what was he complaining about? If you read Ecclesiastes you’ll find that the wisest man had more questions than answers, more observations than explanations. He now relied on his twisted logic more than Jehovah. Let’s continue in the same chapter. This is a reflection of his life.
“A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead. His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man. He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use? All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others? Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 6:3-9 NLT
Haha the wisest thing he said was verse nine-“Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.” The man is coming to the end of his life and sounds depressed and joyless. This once brilliant and vibrant mind traded his walk with God for what he thought would satisfy. He found out his mistake and we’re reading about it in this book. Things are futile.
“Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they? In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?”
Ecclesiastes 6:10-12
Is that how you feel about your life as you’ve gotten older? We don’t need to argue with God about our destiny, we’ve been given a choice: A life in Christ or our own selfish will. Heaven or hell. He calls life meaningless. Well, is it? I’m not living a meaningless life- are you? Jesus has given me a new and robust life. My life has never been better. He’s describing a life without Jehovah God. He soon arrives at a good conclusion that we’d be wise to heed.
“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.” Remember Him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember Him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember Him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember Him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember Him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember Him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 NLT
Whew! So how much time do you have? Plan to use it wisely while it is still today. Tomorrow may never come to you. Yeah, this may be morbid, but it’s a part of life. Live for Jesus and everyday will be today. A today with few or no regrets. Only what’s done for Christ will last. Don’t be like Solomon, he started strong but ended an abject failure, and it was all self inflicted. 1 Kings 12. He became cynical. Enjoying nothing. But we have something Solomon didn’t have as believers in Jesus Christ. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our lives aren’t meaningless, we’re God’s masterpieces created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Don’t squander your youth, was one of his warnings, don’t ignore God was another. Both those things comes into full view when you come to the end of your days. Live purposefully. Make a decision for Christ while you still have your strength. Fear the Lord. Solomon had failed on all levels but now he’s warning those who will listen. Everything is soon to come to light, God’s light. Place your hand on your heart, is it still beating? You still have breath? God is giving you time to make a conscious decision for your life, eternal life today.
Go now to your quiet place and make amends with your God. Jesus has prepared the way. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, His blood still washes whiter than wool. Pour out your heart to Him and be restored. Solomon from all accounts of his life never repented. Don’t let that be true of you. Go now...He’s waiting for you.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant