18th April 2024

18th April 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 11v7-10)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There is something very intoxicating about the months leading to the summer. The nights get shorter, the temperatures rise and our annual fortnight at the caravan gets ever closer. It’s human to day dream about the future and to long for a special day but it should never be our default setting.


Ecclesiastes is a wonderful but uncompromising book. It is a challenging read and Solomon often hits us right between the eyes with his description of life under the sun. But we do the wise King an injustice if we pretend Solomon was always doom and gloom. Indeed he couldn’t have been clearer when he said “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” (v7) or to put it another way “Life is good”


This is not an unbiblical statement. We know that to be with Jesus is better by far (Philippians 1v23) but we also know that life under the sun is sometimes very, very sweet. Every wedding I’ve ever conducted in Edengrove has seen the balcony filled with women of a certain age who have come without an invitation just to look at the Bride’s dress. Why? Because weddings are one of life’s joyous affairs. Another happy thing is to enjoy a meal with the one you love. It is a delight to witness your grandson’s first steps and it thrills our heart to see the Grand Canyon in person or to propose at the Eiffel Tower or to gaze in wonder at the top of Slieve Croob. Sometimes, life is good.


Therefore, both young and old are to rejoice in all the days they are given (v8). There is no doubt that dark days will come in the midst of much vanity (v8b). There will be days of both mental vexation and bodily pain (v10) but nevertheless, we are to rejoice in our many years (v8a) and certainly in the days of our youth (v9).


Does this mean we should live an unrestricted life of debauchery and sin? By no means! The Lord will certainly bring each one of us into judgement (v9b) but we should seek and expect days of joy and happiness this side of heaven.


Brothers and sisters, God has spoken in Ecclesiastes and He has told us that life will be both bitter and sweet. The bitter days will certainly come and by God’s grace we will endure, but we should also be certain of days when the sun shines brightly upon our face. When those days arrive may we have the discernment to know that life is good and may we remember to sing praises to Christ our King.     


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q16 Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.
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