Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes (Old Testament) because he has learned the hard lesson from his pride. Solomon was the wisest man ever lived (other than Christ). Solomon was humbled by God and then he wrote from his experiences. Solomon explained to us the reality of life from God's point of view. If God is ALL good, then Solomon would not write the negative side of God in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. In Ephesians 1:11, "He works all things according to the purpose of His own will."
Reading Ecclesiastes helps alot. Hearing stories from my elders (old relatives and older Christians) reminded me that their experiences speaks the truth. As they say, "History repeats itself in every generation." Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Reading Ecclesiastes have reminded me that people have been taking "life" for granted. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.
We all must remember that without these temptations and circumstances, our self-discovery of spiritual maturity will not be learned. Our greatest teachers are those circumstances of temptations we are facing because they are reminders that we are still sinners and we are to be trained into spiritual growth. When we most aware of our weaknesses, we are more inclined to collapse into God's strength and experience His amazing grace. "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).
Since the Reformation, we have had many "Awakenings" which is another word for "revival". Luther was the famous who revived (restored). Revive means to "to restore". I like this quote by Richard Baxter, "Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before He came, they looked and longed for Him, and boasted of Him and rejoiced in hope of Him; but when He came they could not abide Him, but Hated him, and would not believe that He was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put Him to death...So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before."
This quote explains better, "A lot of our activity often mistaken for revival is just the church turning over, but not waking up." Vance Havner
So, what then, did life teach me? What have I learned in this "life" have produce fruit in me.
Fruit of Patience: Hebrews 10:36, James 1:3
Fruit of Joy: Psalm 30:5, Psalm 126:6.
Fruit of Knowledge: Psalm 94:12
Fruit of Maturity: 1 Peter 5:10
Trials come to test the strength of our faith because they assist us in the knowledge of our own faith. (Genesis 22:1-18, Malachi 3:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-9). Trials come to us to reveal what we really love. Regardless who they are, Christians' attitudes find their root in the heart (Jeremiah 17:9-10). In Proverbs 4:23 says, “...Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” My trials in my life were my "wake-up calls" trying to reform me to be a better Christian. I have learned that even though God does not always permit such serious life-changing situations in my life, but He did lead me into life-changing experiences that heighten my effectiveness as a Christian. I have learned that God uses people with the right life experiences by putting them through the right spiritual directions and teaching them the right spiritual lessons. Looking back, I discovered that God knows how to get results using people like me. Its amazing how God works in my life regardless what happened to me. I have seen what God has done for other people through my own life.
Trials (of all kinds) are often a two-sided coin. One side of the trials may be viewed as coming from God to bring out the BEST in us (See: Gen. 22:1-2, 15-18; Hebrews 11:17). On the other side of the coin (trials), Satan attempts to tempt us and problems to bring out the WORST in us (see: James 1:13-14). His destiny for us as Paul explains: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
Reading Ecclesiastes helps alot. Hearing stories from my elders (old relatives and older Christians) reminded me that their experiences speaks the truth. As they say, "History repeats itself in every generation." Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Reading Ecclesiastes have reminded me that people have been taking "life" for granted. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.
We all must remember that without these temptations and circumstances, our self-discovery of spiritual maturity will not be learned. Our greatest teachers are those circumstances of temptations we are facing because they are reminders that we are still sinners and we are to be trained into spiritual growth. When we most aware of our weaknesses, we are more inclined to collapse into God's strength and experience His amazing grace. "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).
Since the Reformation, we have had many "Awakenings" which is another word for "revival". Luther was the famous who revived (restored). Revive means to "to restore". I like this quote by Richard Baxter, "Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before He came, they looked and longed for Him, and boasted of Him and rejoiced in hope of Him; but when He came they could not abide Him, but Hated him, and would not believe that He was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put Him to death...So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before."
This quote explains better, "A lot of our activity often mistaken for revival is just the church turning over, but not waking up." Vance Havner
So, what then, did life teach me? What have I learned in this "life" have produce fruit in me.
Fruit of Patience: Hebrews 10:36, James 1:3
Fruit of Joy: Psalm 30:5, Psalm 126:6.
Fruit of Knowledge: Psalm 94:12
Fruit of Maturity: 1 Peter 5:10
Trials come to test the strength of our faith because they assist us in the knowledge of our own faith. (Genesis 22:1-18, Malachi 3:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-9). Trials come to us to reveal what we really love. Regardless who they are, Christians' attitudes find their root in the heart (Jeremiah 17:9-10). In Proverbs 4:23 says, “...Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” My trials in my life were my "wake-up calls" trying to reform me to be a better Christian. I have learned that even though God does not always permit such serious life-changing situations in my life, but He did lead me into life-changing experiences that heighten my effectiveness as a Christian. I have learned that God uses people with the right life experiences by putting them through the right spiritual directions and teaching them the right spiritual lessons. Looking back, I discovered that God knows how to get results using people like me. Its amazing how God works in my life regardless what happened to me. I have seen what God has done for other people through my own life.
Trials (of all kinds) are often a two-sided coin. One side of the trials may be viewed as coming from God to bring out the BEST in us (See: Gen. 22:1-2, 15-18; Hebrews 11:17). On the other side of the coin (trials), Satan attempts to tempt us and problems to bring out the WORST in us (see: James 1:13-14). His destiny for us as Paul explains: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
God works all things together for His purposes. Be willing to try whatever God wants us to try, trusting that He’ll help us along the way. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. We can experience a miracle as God’s love flows through us. Remember this quote I quoted a few times in this blog, "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."
1 comment:
I love Ecclesiastes. It is my favorite book in the Bible.
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