Proverbs: Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: A Father's Wise Instruction:

Westcliffe, Colorado 

Do not just listen to what I am saying but fully understand it and put it to practice in your life. Do not let these things go in one ear and out the other! Live your life in a way that allows you to gain wisdom and avoid evil. Plan your life around gaining wisdom, meet with those who have come before you and learn from their mistakes (Example A: Solomon), listen to them attentively, and remember those conversations when you come across something that will make you stumble. Love the idea of wisdom and live it, don't just consider it, do it. The start of wisdom is getting wisdom! You cannot know wisdom until you start seeking wisdom, that is the first step of being wise, admitting you are a fool and in need of wisdom, step two is seeking wisdom. Any fool can admit he is unwise, but you start to gain knowledge when you take action. (Side rant to men only: We need to start being men and taking accountability for our actions. This is rampant through our society, boys who are masquerading as men. It is unacceptable, and we need to remedy the situation. We need to be men of courage, strength, honor, dignity, and respect. Seek to love women in a way that values who they are, not what they can do for you. We are all selfish people, we need to suppress our pride and seek restoration in humility.) Most of us know how we should be living and realize when we have done something wrong. This isn't a shock to anyone; however, we merely choose to make poor choices. We don't have a knowledge issue, we have an "I don't care what happens to others" issue. We are greedy, selfish, corrupt people who primarily seek self-satisfaction. Solomon calls us to steer clear of the path of the wicked and not to walk in the way of evil. This is coming from a man who had all the pleasures of the world in his possession and far exceeded us in wealth, fame, sex, or power. He tells us not to go down the path of wickedness and that we should turn away from it. Those who walk wickedly will not sleep until they draw others into their wickedness. I remember this feeling quite well, especially when I had a lot of struggles within the realm of sexual activity. I didn't want to just let it be me on an island who struggled with this, I would try to ensure I knew that others were doing the same things I did, then lie to them and say I didn't struggle with it. But, this boosted my ego and ensured I wasn't the only one sinning, therefore I don't need to change how I perceive it. This is madness! I was within deep darkness and I couldn't recognize the absurdity in my mind or the wickedness of my ways. I was so blinded by my pride and self-seeking behavior that I couldn't even see my sin for what it truly was, I constantly rationalized my behaviors. If only I could have been better at listening to my own father’s teachings, or Solomon's warnings, or the entire gospel that I have had in front of me my entire life. But, God used these things to break me down and then draw me to Him. He gave me no choice and brought beauty from the pain, restoration to the broken and never-ending grace for a sinner like me. If you have given your life to Christ and find your identity in Him, you have new life. You are a new creation, healing has come to your brokenness. Again, this does not mean you won't continue to sin in your life, but you will be drawn towards things that are holy and begin to have a different mindset of how you see your sin. You will see that sin puts barriers between yourself and God. This is where repenting and seeking forgiveness (which is always given and is free) from our Father is so rewarding to our minds, hearts, and souls. He gives us the freedom to be cut loose from the bindings that sin has put on us and glorify Him. [Don't try to restrain the Holy Spirit from working through your life.] We should be thinking about where we are going in life and ponder the paths we tread upon. The wise man will do these things.

Dear Lord, thank you for using the countless number of older married men that I was privileged to interact with over the weekend at the GRIP retreat. I pray that you will allow me to humble myself before you in all things. I pray that you will watch over my future and that it will bring forth fruit beyond anything I could ever imagine. I hope you will use me to stir other's affections for Christ and bring them to a place of humility before you. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Proverbs: Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart:

Cheyenne Park | Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Remember the important things in life and follow the commandments of God. If we do that we will be able to add time (not always in years added to our actual time here, but we will be in the moment actually experiencing that time instead of worrying it away) to our lives because we aren't stressed as much as we would be if we didn't pursue God's law. God wants us to experience life joyfully, even though many troubles will come our way, if we turn to Him we will be given a peace that surpasses all human understanding. We should put love and faithfulness on ourselves just like we put clothing on, we should have God's love written on our hearts, so it radiates throughout our words, actions, and steps. We should strive to find favor in the sight of God, if we do this, we will produce deep relationships with those around us. It isn't about us, it is about God. It isn't our knowledge, it is His knowledge. We must acknowledge who He is and follow His teachings through His scripture. This is where pride enters in because we don't want to listen to anyone, we want to do what we want when we want, how we want, and to whomever we want. This is the heart of man. We believe we are the wise one amongst a world of fools. This is evil, and we should turn away from it. Every time we turn from evil, God is restoring us to Him and drawing us closer to His love. He refreshes our souls and shows us who He is. 

How can we show God that we appreciate how He blesses us? By giving Him the first portion of what He gave it to us. That's right, money. He wants us to give the best of what we have to offer to Him and do it from a heart of joy, not regret. Therefore, perspective is extremely important when we tithe. We should not do it begrudgingly but with joy in our hearts,| 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | understanding that He has blessed us, and it is an honor for us to be able to have the opportunity to bless others with that money. This is a way God instills discipline into our lives and creates an environment where we need to be smart with the money that He gives us through our careers (which He gave us the talent to achieve).

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom:

The ability to understand things clearly and realize the merit they hold is one of the most important things in life. If we can understand where someone is coming from, their perspective, then we can see their point of view and realize why they say or do something different than ourselves. If we can seek the wisdom to discern these things we will have a life that is filled with peace and pleasantness. This does not mean terrible things won't happen to us, it means we will see them much like Paul:| Philippians 1:29-30 "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have." | God created the heavens and the earth (everything, everywhere, from nothing) and poured out His love to us. Why do we believe He won't keep His promises? We can't lose sight of what He has given to us, which is everything, we must remember that He is the end goal. If we walk in humility with the Lord He will give us; peace, confidence, joy, understanding, wisdom, and life. Without Him, we are dead. This should drive humility through our actions because we have no foundation of pride through Him, thus when we see our friends we won't do evil towards them or envy those around us for what they have or can do, He is enough. It is hard for us to wrap this concept around our heads because we rarely acknowledge that Christ is enough. And when I say this, I mean truly acknowledge it fully. I know that I struggle with this even when I am praying to God, I can hear my mind saying: "I don't trust you can do this." It is in my head and I attempt to shut it out, but I can't. Or, when I am going through a hard time and I say: "I know God will keep me safe through this." but, in my heart, I am thinking of 1,000 other things I could try to do instead of trusting what He is doing. I want control of the situation and I don't trust God's timing.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will grant me wisdom in life, especially while I am searching for a wife, a career, and how I should budget my finances. Please grant me the patience to seek your plan and not my own. I long to be wise, but I am a fool. I long to be close to you, but my mind screams don't trust God. Please show me your way and not mine. Draw me closer to you. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Proverbs: Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: The Value of Wisdom

Shelf Road | Canon City, Colorado 

There is a task before us, all in life and we must choose to either seek wisdom or folly. Solomon is pleading with his children to hear what he is saying and understand that it is not meaningless. He is aware that he is probably tuned out - as most all parents are - when he begins to talk about such things as seeking wisdom. He is asking for them to listen for wise people and then seek out their understanding from a place of humility and curiosity. We should seek wisdom vigorously and never stop pursuing the knowledge of God regardless of how hard it may be to find it. The understanding we are seeking is a healthy fear of the Lord. Knowing His power, His mightiness, His plan for our lives. We should be crying out to Him in prayer all the time. We are desperate for our savior and we should feel neediness within us to be close to Him. Example: Whenever I find myself in a situation where I can do the wrong thing or do the right thing, I am usually convicted by the idea of knowing God sees my actions (and sees the thoughts that are going on within my head) and He would not be honored if I made the wrong choice. This is a very vague example of how the Holy Spirit within us can say: "You know this isn't right and you shouldn't be doing it." This is common amongst believers and non-believers. We all receive common grace and we all know there are some things that are just morally wrong.

If we seek out the Lord and ask for wisdom and understanding He will give it to us freely. God only speaks knowledge and understanding, He is wisdom. Those who know God, know wisdom. He gives sound wisdom to those who love Him and see themselves as who they truly are, broken and battered sinners who are crying out to Him in prayer and adoration. Then we can understand things like righteousness, justice, and equity; all the good things that we can enjoy in life. God will place wisdom on us and show us knowledge that will bring us comfort in our souls. (This does not mean we will be comfortable in life or rich, it merely means we will know where our soul is going when we die.)

We will be delivered from evil by the wisdom, understanding, discretion, and knowledge that God will give to us. This is how we will overcome living a life marked by evil - not by what we bring to the table - but what God gives to us through His Son and the Holy Spirit. He can mark us as people who love righteousness and despise evil. (Again, this does not mean you won't sin, we are all sinners and that will not end until Christ returns.) We should avoid those who are wicked and seek The Kingdom of Heaven first. [Also, while remembering that we are to do this in a matter that exudes the gospel. We don’t do it from a place of pride, but from humility.] In the current year, it is very hard to avoid crookedness or devious behavior, it is everywhere, it runs rampant in every conversation, dinner, event, workplace, church, etc. The idea of being a strong Christian who loves the Lord is not a popular concept within the United States. However, going to church on Sunday is, but then no one lives the way they pretend to when they attend church. It is the worst situation to be in because your hobby is the church (An extremely lame hobby, by the way, I would rather spend my time with a hobby that is more fun and exciting.) and there is no depth to it. This is pointless. If being a Christian is strictly attending church then the gospel has been lost because the church isn't the main attraction, Christ's love for us is the overwhelming beauty that is Christianity. If we remove Christ as the subject of the church, it has lost its meaning. The ability to be free from sin (Again, this doesn't mean you don't sin, it means Christ's blood covers your sins and you are forgiven through Him) and to live a life that is not bound to a superficial view of the world is a beautiful experience. Seeing God's creation and showing appreciation to Him for it is very rewarding. His creation, His plan, His desire for us is to enjoy what He created.

Solomon is trying to get this point across to his sons, If you understand my words and seek wisdom over folly you will be rescued from being with a woman who will forsake you and seek others instead. Currently, the divorce rate is absurd (Around 60% of marriages end in divorce) and it is the best example of losing sight of God because marriage is supposed to be a covenant between you, your spouse, and God. God brings you two together and makes you one, man should not be able to tear apart what God brings together. But, we live in a post-Genesis 3 world. If we seek sinful pleasures we will usually be left unsatisfied and longing for something more. The path of the wicked leads to death, the path of righteousness leads to Heaven. We should walk in the way that Christ calls us to and seek His kingdom. We will fall short, as in all things, but we should strive to grow closer to Him every day. We should root out the treachery that is deep within us and fill that hole with His love.

Dear Lord, I pray that you would remind me of your gospel every day. I want to see it in everything; work, people, nature, mountains, experiences, etc. I know that I want this only sometimes, help me want this all of the time. Help me be more caring for others and seeking you over sin. Draw me closer to you and stir my affections for you even more. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Proverbs: Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Beginning of Knowledge:

New Zealand 

Solomon, son of David (a man after God's own heart), wants everyone to know the way they should live their lives. He is wanting to pass down wisdom, understanding, and advice to those who come after him. We should seek those who are wise and will instruct us on how we should handle situations. He tells us to surround ourselves with those who are righteous and listen to their advice. This is Solomon's "Way to Live" book. There is one place that everyone must start at in order to begin the pathway to true knowledge, fear of the Lord. Only fools will look to their own merit when going through life. (Count me a fool.) These are ideas that we struggle with constantly, we are not good at asking for help or seeking the advice of others, we prefer to try it out and burn ourselves many times before being forced to get help. If we are wise we will listen to those who came before us and increase our knowledge.

The Enticement of Sinners:

Listen to me! Listen to your mother's teaching! We are not trying to hurt you; we are trying to help you by placing parameters around you during your upbringing. Do not forsake us when we disappoint your feelings. There are a lot of people who are going to try and drag you into situations that are evil and filled with regret, avoid these people while you are maturing into a young man or woman. I know that I have been blessed with a lot of great friends in my lifetime, I have also been witness (or have walked away) a lot of sinful behavior. (When I say this, it isn't that I wasn't sinning, I am still just as much of a sinner as the next person.) They were participating in illegal behavior and a lot of illicit acts were being committed. I would avoid these situations as best I could in order to be safe. It is tempting to follow the crowd and seek pleasure from the association with others, but we must choose our friends wisely. We shouldn't choose friends who will never challenge our thoughts or ideas, or friends who don't care what we do as long as it is fun, a friend who truly cares will see mischief and poor behavior and call it as he or she sees it. They won't sugarcoat the truth, because they want what is best for you, not something that could lead to trouble. (This does not mean they should be inconsiderate or rude towards you.) It isn't easy to say no when you are being enticed to do something you know is wrong, you must prepare yourself for these situations and seek guidance and how to handle them. Do not suck the life out of others in order to lift yourself up, bless others by helping them and loving them. 

The Call of Wisdom:

Wisdom, if you can imagine it, is like a subtle wind that blows through the streets with passing ideas or realizations that something should or shouldn't be done. Unfortunately, we disregard the wise choice most of the time, especially in our youth. How long will we continue to be simple? God created us for the most epic story in the universe! [Spoiler Alert: We are not the main character, Christ is.] We have the creator of all things who wants us to experience joy and happiness, the fullness of life that is found in Him, yet we seldom choose Him, we choose foolishness. All we have to do is turn to God and He will pour out His love, kindness, grace, mercy, and His spirit to us, He will make His words known to us and incline our hearts towards Him. There is a choice we must all make; A. Live a life that glorifies God. B. Live a life that glorifies yourself. These two options are essentially the broadest ways of stating you will either love God through your sin or you will reject God through your sin. No matter what your choice is, you will sin, it is inevitable. God is just and He will not accept anything less than perfection. This is why Christ had to come and die on the cross to take our sins and receive the punishment for us, otherwise, we would be dead in our sin and have no hope in life. He restored us, He redeemed us, He makes us perfect in Himself. The most beautiful things in life are found in Him and through Him, not in us or through us. He makes the stars shine, He ensures the sun rises, He put into motion all of the gases that create such things as the aurora borealis, He created the mountains and valleys, He started the bang that led to everything that is and ever will be. He is the alpha and omega. We should love to Worship Him, it is why we were created. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you would give me wisdom and understanding that I might live a life that is glorifying to you and not to myself. Draw me away from pride and into humility, eradicate the sins that place barriers between myself and you, let me be still in your presence and not be anxious for anything. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 12:

Chapter 12: Remember Your Creator in Your Youth:

We must take to thought the idea that one day we will grow old and cease to be the physical specimens we may or may not be at this time. The subject line of chapter 12 speaks to it: "Remember your creator in your youth." Much like in Chapter 11, Solomon is pleading with us to know God first and that all other things are secondary compared to His love. All is vanity without the Lord, this is the thesis of Ecclesiastes. This makes sense to us if we believe the truth that God created the universe from nothing, a molded man by His image, and breathed life into every living thing on earth and in the universe. God is the center of all things, the end all be all, I am because He is, without Him nothing would exist. Therefore, when we place life on earth into that context, we can better understand why Solomon harps on this so harshly, he is anxious for us. He wants us to learn from his mistakes and see his folly, he doesn't want us to live a life that is meaningless, he wants us to have a purpose in what we do under the sun. The life we have is a gift from God and it is not something to be taken lightly. We have choices to make that will decide our eternal future. I know that we focus on what sport we will play in high school, who we will take to prom, what college we should attend, if we should buy a house or rent an apartment if we should buy a new car or a used car, when should I get married, what career should I pursue, on-and-on it goes. (These are important questions that we should take our time and pray about because they will have a big impact on our lives, however, they shouldn't be our ultimate focus.) Few of us spend time on the most important question of all: Where am I directing my soul through my thoughts and actions? Am I on a path that will lead to righteousness or a path that will lead to death? Have I admitted before the Almighty God that I am a broken sinner in need of a savior? Or, am I blazing my own trail that is driven by my selfish pride? We need to ask ourselves these deep questions and seek the very root of our desires. It is best if we begin to ask these questions in our youth and discover where our hearts truly lie. This way, we can begin to work on the issues we have prior to growing older.

Fear God and Keep His Commandments:

Quandary Peak | Colorado

(I love how Solomon pats himself on the back as he says: "Besides being wise,…" speaking of himself haha.) Solomon, the wisest man who has ever lived, wrote the book of Proverbs. This book is something that many people use to guide their daily life. "Proverb A Day" is a very popular idea amongst Christian circles. His goal was to write something that was encouraging and truthful to any man or woman who would read it. This is how he encompassed his idea of "Fear God and keep His commandments." He speaks to the fact that God guided Him with these words and that it isn't about man writing or about how we can save ourselves, it is about how to live a life that will glorify God in all things. We shouldn't be trying to add to the Gospel or to the Bible. This will only take us further and further away from Christ. Be wary of those who preach a false gospel or try to sway your thoughts away from scripture and onto other beliefs created by man.

Conclusion:

I have thoroughly enjoyed working through the book of Ecclesiastes. It is currently my favorite book of the Bible, hence why I started the blog with Ecclesiastes. I think it is one of the most humbling and eye-opening books within the Bible. Solomon had everything any of us could ever imagine or dream of obtaining, and he called it all vanity in the end. He lived in a way none of us could even fathom and says that everything is meaningless. This should be a very convicting statement for us to hear, especially in the United States. We are constantly seeking more trinkets and better toys, working to show off the things we have bought and look like we have everything together in life. We strive to impress man, not God. We look to the world for pleasure, not the author of all pleasures and joy. God wants us to be filled with joy and to experience life to the fullest, He created everything so that it would glorify Him and experience His wonder. I leave you with a quote by one of my favorite authors.

|  J.R.R. Tolkien "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." |

Dear Lord, I pray that you will use these words as a blessing to others and that they may encourage those who see them. I want to write from a place of humility and understanding while I dissect scripture and I pray that it will serve others and praise You in the process. Do not allow pride to cover this but let it ring of honesty and how helpless I am without You, Lord. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 11:

Chapter 11: Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters:

Monarch Ski Resort | Salida, Colorado

Solomon is telling us to invest our money into different ventures and reap the benefits of potential. Spread your money or wealth amongst a wide spectrum of things and do it wisely. We shouldn't just save our money and hoard it, we should use it to bless others in many ways; investing in people's business ideas, giving to the community, tithing to our church, and of course, saving for our future is a part of this as well. However, we should not be storing up large sums of money that we will not need, this is vanity. We need to use our money and enjoy life with those around us in the community as well. We are called to be men of action, we should not sit around and wait for things to happen or for our current status to randomly improve. We must put our nose to the ground and drive our success in business by being good stewards of the gifts God has granted us. All will be meaningless if we don't utilize the gifts that He has given to us. Again, this doesn't take away God's common grace that he affords everyone, but we will be lacking if we don't live our lives according to His plan. 

Quandary Mountain | Summit County

The beauty of the light in the world is one of the majestic and awe-inspiring things of all because it brings life to earth. It is a beautiful thing to watch the sunlight up our earth with sunrises, sunsets, light being bent and shaped. We should enjoy this and experience the wonder that is under the sun. There is no reason for us not to bathe in the glory days of life and soak up every square of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction. We are a spec in the grand scheme of the universe but we are given life. Although, we must remember, dark days are coming and we must root ourselves in the one who is the author of joy. While I am young I am indulging myself in all of the things that I love to do; rock climb, snowboarding, hiking, camping, etc. these are things that stir my affections for Christ and bring me great joy. However, one day, my body will reject these things and I will no longer be able to do them. If I root myself in activities and sports I will one day break down and lose all meaning in life, this is why we must maintain a balance and not lose the meaning behind all things. Perspective is king. That being said, we should rejoice in our youth! Indulge in the things that we love and due them to the fullest, we are alive for a short-time, relish in the time that we are able to do these things and give thanks to Him for the opportunity. Solomon warns us not to get lost in them. God wants our heart throughout the whole process, He doesn't want us to lose sight of Him, He wants to give us the fullest joy possible, and it is found in Him.

As a 27-year-old man, I have a lot of junk still blocking me from God (all self-inflicted and has nothing to do with God placing it there, it is all me). I have placed a lot of barriers between myself and Him. I protect my idols, but I have been able to slowly give them over to the Lord (not through my own power, but God working). There is no easy way of giving things to God - it should be easy - but it most certainly is not. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not coming from a place of humility, but pride. Solomon pleads with us (people in my age range) to deal with our deep-rooted issues now. Do not wait until you are married, do not wait until you have a family, do not wait until you are about to be divorced. Deal with your idols now! Yes, you might be lonely for a while but it is much better to be lonely while you work on your sins than to internalize and suppress your junk and then 5 years into marriage be face-to-face with a divorce lawyer trying to find out where things went wrong. Lust, lying, sexual impurity, anger, hatred, etc. seek help and overcome these things before you settle down. Do not wait until your soul is connected to another through a covenant with God. I cannot express the mercy that God has given me by ensuring that I am still a single man and not married. It would have gone very, very poorly for my spouse. There are things that God has shown me in my prideful heart that are very scary. Pride has a way of diluting the truth and showing us only the good things we do. We are blind to the hurt we cause others, we are blind to the sin that is within us, we are blinded from knowing the truth about who we are. This is why we need to seek out close friends, counselors, pastors, parents, grandparents, people who are wiser than ourselves and can see us from the outside looking in and explain what we are thinking and cry out to the Lord in surrender to the sin that is eating away at our hearts. We cannot overcome sin, only Christ could (and did) that, but we can draw closer to Him and seek healing from the sins that have a stronghold on our hearts and souls, we must loosen our grip on our idols and give them over to God in surrender, along with our hearts. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you will continue the good work in me that you have begun. Save me from my deep-rooted sins and restore a clean heart within me. | "I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2 | I believe in you, but not fully. Help me trust you regardless of circumstances. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 10:

Chapter 10: Wisdom

Shelf Road | Canon City, Colorado

We can make all the right choices and live a life of wisdom for 40, 50, 60 years. But, make one mistake, and you can be known as a fool amongst men for making one foolish choice. Regardless of how wise you are, you may never escape the perception of the one foolish thing that you did. This is another reminder that we can never be perfect and as Christians we should exemplify this notion. Because we are far from perfect, the antithesis of the Gospel is perfection. We are broken, hence why we needed Christ to die on the cross to cover our sins. There was no plan B. We couldn't do it. We should share our weaknesses with others and exalt God who makes us strong in our weaknesses. A wise man will do this, share his burdens and confront his sins openly with friends. This will help draw us to goodness, kindness, mercy, and grace because we don't see ourselves (or project ourselves) as someone who is perfect and never makes mistakes. Only a fool will say that he is without sin and never says that he is on fire (when he is in fact, on fire). This is something I struggled with for many years (if you read back through my blog I mention struggling with deceit, lying, manipulation, etc.) I wanted to project that I had everything going perfectly for me. I was very outspoken about not lying, cheating, watching pornography or being sinful. I wouldn't say it, but I would project it in how I did things, my responses to other people who struggled with sinful behavior, I would act concerned for them, but I never admitted to the same struggles, I just let them talk to me and I would portray myself as superman by never admitting to the same issues. I would act like I knew the answer to the problem and point them in the right direction, knowing that I myself couldn't escape the same sin they were stuck in. I was a fool (and still am) but I learned through pain and suffering that God never meant for us to try to battle the sin that is within us on our own. We can't beat it. We must seek His word, the church, community, close friends, family, etc. and expose our hearts to them and seek healing through hard work and prayer. It isn't easy, but it is necessary for a healthy life.

Those who have been given the gift of patience are truly blessed by God. If we can maintain a calm demeanor through turmoil, it will be very beneficial in life. Not only for our emotional state of being, but for those around us who know they can come to us with anything and they will not be met with shouting and angry behavior. | "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Dr. Steven Covey |This is one of the most important aspects of remaining calm in a situation of high-stress. If we can try and understand where the other person is coming from we can better see the why behind the action. It is not our job to judge the person, we must judge the action. However, we cannot judge the action until we have the context around it. If we think that passing judgment is something that is done in an instant, we are wrong and we shouldn't be doing that. You must know a person very well before you try to call out the sin that is in their life. Otherwise, you will do a lot of damage that will more than likely never be restored. Foolishness is thinking that we are wise when we are not, we lack judgment. We are all sinners, regardless of whether not you are saved, and without Christ all of us would perish and spend an eternity absent God. Yes, we are saved by grace and Christ takes our punishment on the cross, but we are still sinners. We will continue to sin until the day we die and become perfect in Him.

Until Christ returns, we should learn to speak wisely, not foolishly. We must learn that regardless of how much information we obtain that we are still broken people in a fallen world, we should never hoist ourselves up or pat ourselves on the back. Don't be consumed by our own foolishness by believing the lie that we are, at our core, good people. (It will leave you broken and depressed or will turn you into a liar because you'll be forced to fake it.) We are selfish, greedy, and evil people who are in desperate need of a savior. I look at myself, from the outside, I probably look like a good person to most people. I attend church, I am a leader in a Bible study, I pray, I read scripture, I encourage others, I long to live a life that praises and glorifies God | Yet, I know my heart. I hear my thoughts everyday | I know where my eyes wander and have wandered. I know that my thoughts need to be cleansed and many of my memories are filled with sinful behavior. I know that when I am driving I judge people in my head. I know that my body has been tainted by sin through taking God's creation and perverting it. I judge others in my mind and speak to my ego about how much better I am than them. These are real things that I struggle with every day. Yet, I love the Lord and even more than that, He loves me. Far beyond any realization of love that I know or will ever be able to understand. I know this and I believe it with all my heart, body and soul. At the end of my life, I will bring my filthy rags before the King and He will say: I see nothing but the cross. Christ paid the price for all the sin I have done, I am doing, and will do. He is enough.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will continue to draw me closer through my shortcomings. Please don't turn away from me or relinquish your presence for even a second, I am lost without Your presence. Let me be a light in a dark world and let me expose my darkness through repentance and prayer. Show me how to overcome my struggles and honor You. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2018 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 9:

Chapter 9: Death Comes to All:

The Shire | New Zealand

Regardless of what we do, whether we are righteous or the chief of all sinners, we can experience the utmost joys of the most sorrowful of pain. Whether we praise Him all the days of our lives or curse His name with no respect for who He is and seek only temporary satisfaction, we all die. I know that in my head I believe I have everything together and I know a lot about life - and I have gone through a lot more than most 27-year-old people - yet, I know nothing in the grand scheme of life. Only more time will give me more knowledge about life. During this time on earth that I have been given, I need to ensure that I use it to seek significance, not comfort. There are a lot of things that can be done on earth, most of them draw me towards comfort and ensure I live a life of ease. This is vanity and should not be my goal in life as a God-fearing Christian. This will leave me hollow, why should I pursue things that are insignificant? Comfort will only pull me further away from God. Now, that doesn't mean we shouldn't have nice things, it means that our perspective of things should not be the way of the world. I shouldn't be solely focused on optimizing my life all the time. Yes, it is good to ensure you are exercising good judgment when you do things, but it is silly to spend all of your time trying to create a perfect life, it won't happen. We should always be teetering on the edge of discomfort because we are giving up what God has given us and lifting up those who are less fortunate.

Enjoy Life with the One You Love:

Christians should be the best and most joyful partiers! We are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ, we should celebrate this with food, wine, and laughter. God sent His son to save us and He did, all of our sins are on the cross, let us be free and enjoy what God has done for us. (Speaking from my perspective as a man: I look forward to enjoying life alongside my wife [whenever she comes along] and truly enjoying one another and the gifts that God has uniquely given each of us. Fun, excitement, silliness, joy, laughter, and all the good things. While also holding her during the pain, sorrow, spite, tears, and any other bad things that come our way. Marriage isn't perfect, but it can be beautiful. I want to enjoy our portion together and fill each other with love, joy, and peace until God calls us home.) As Christians, our perspective on life and how we live it out should be counter-culture. We shouldn't look the same, our lives should be different, our relationships, our marriages, our careers. We should be the hardest and most honest workers in our particular field of work. Why? Because if God is who He says He is, and we are who we say we are, then we believe that He works all things together for our good (whether it is on earth or in Heaven) and we should praise Him regardless of circumstance. We should strive to work hard and glorify Him in our work. We can be an example of Christ within us simply by adhering to the rules and regulations of our jobs and working to the best of our abilities, being humble and forthright within our workplace.

Wisdom Better Than Folly:

Regardless of wealth, power, intelligence, wisdom, or any other attribute, none of us know when we will die and meet eternity. Even if you surpass all others in power and wealth you will still return to the ground. Regardless of your appearance, status, or how people see you, you are able to change people's lives. The poor wise man is far better than the foolish rich person who has influence. I wish I had more wisdom and less foolishness. I have made a lot of poor choices throughout my life, but the beauty of the gospel is that I am forgiven and when God looks at me He sees only His perfect son. The cross is enough to save me from my sin. The cross is enough to save you from your sin. The cross is enough to save everyone from their sins. This is what is so amazing about God's love for us, it is unconditional. We cannot understand the concept of unconditional love because we can't love unconditionally, we are too broken and filled with sin which makes us impure. Yet, the beauty of the gospel is that we are sinners saved by grace and Christ will return again and restore earth in the end. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you will guide my heart in the way of wisdom and that I will seek first your will in my life. I struggle with being of the world and seeing only what can benefit me and not others. I long to be restored and be new in you every day. Work in my heart and soul to draw me closer to you. I pray that you will give me the compassion to see the hurt in others and give me the guidance to restore them. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: Keep the King's Command: 

Shenandoah National Park | Virginia 

We continue to develop the world and try to numb all the pain, boredom, and give ourselves all the best opportunities to be happy - yet, we are never satisfied and we always want more. Even the things we invent are tainted by our greedy and corrupt hearts. Example: We in America are vaccinated at birth for diseases that thousands of children throughout the world die of every day. Why? Greed. If these companies were to administer those vaccinations to these third-world countries they wouldn't make the profits they desire. Thus, they do nothing. So how do we live in this corrupt world after Christ has saved us? (First, we need to acknowledge that we are no different than anyone else, we are all born into sin and without Christ we are identical, it is Him within us, not us.) We must guard our hearts and only submit to those we believe in and trust. Friends, spouse, career, etc. we need to pay attention to who we are allowing to influence ourselves. We are bent and broken, easily torn away from God. We need to put a lot of time and energy into ensuring we don't hitch our wagon to someone who will lead us away from God. (While also ensuring that we spread the Gospel to those who don't know the Lord.) We must engage in a lot of introspection and prayer to discover who we are in Christ and know what His plan is for us. We must know what the truth of the Word is and follow it as best we can. We need to build a foundation of Christ into our hearts, minds, and souls. This way, when something comes up in life, we have already sought out God's plan for our life and we can follow His path and not our own that we make-up on the spot. Even when we are being careful and doing everything correctly, we can easily be ensnared into evil things. 

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well:

Wicked men will sometimes outlive those who love the Lord and follow Him, we cannot explain it when we try to figure out why it happens this way. However, we can understand and know that God's plan is always better than ours in every way. He isn't surprised when something happens and He does not get anxious for our future, He is there. He is all-knowing, if we acknowledge this fact then we must admit that God will always know what is best for us. And if we believe what we say: | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 | then we should realize that His plan is always best because He wants what is best for us, He will work all things together for our good, whether it is in Heaven or on earth when He draws us towards Him. Sometimes, punishment for our sins is not enacted upon us here on earth, it is done in death (this would be an example of someone who does not fear the Lord and refuses to give their life over to Christ). Eternal damnation is God separating Himself from non-believers. This is the ultimate punishment for sin. We should, as strange as this sounds, seek God's punishment for our sins on earth. Plead that He will allow us to be broken down in order to draw us to Him. We need Him by whatever means. It doesn't matter how horrific something is to you if it brings you to Christ. Obviously, we don't want terrible things to happen to us, but if they do, they might be a blessing from God. Pride runs our lives more than we will ever care to admit and the sense of being in control of everything is damning to our souls.

Man Cannot Know God's Ways:

The concept of the prosperity Gospel is one of the furthest things from scripture and all it does is hurt those who inhale the poisonous fumes that are passed through the silver tongues of 30+-year-old boys preaching this nonsense. Yes, I am very harsh towards it and I realize that may make some question who I think I am to say such things. But, it is something that truly damages everyone in an eternal way, this cannot be taken lightly. Yes, I believe God uses everyone (including myself, chief of sinners) in one way or another, but preaching a false Gospel is terrible in every way. It is blasphemy and needs to be seen for what it is. How do we do this? We go to the Bible. If we ever have questions of what Christianity should look like or how a preacher should be preaching, we need to go to the Bible.

Solomon breaks the idea of karma in verses 14 & 15 by showing that those who do evil can receive benefits and those that are holy can receive a terrible life that should be received by the evil one. There is no such thing as good karma or bad karma. However, if you make good choices, the odds that you will reap benefits from those choices are accurate. Example: If I go to college and earn a degree in Astrophysics, I will have a much better chance of getting a job at NASA as an Astrophysicist than a person who flunks out of College because they chose to get drunk and party instead of studying. This isn't karma, they are life choices leading to something that was earned through hard work and perseverance (and in the end, all things are gifts from God.) 

Dear Lord, I pray that you will give me a heart of compassion and grace for everyone; including pastors who preach false gospels. I struggle with judging others and I can have a heart of stone towards others. Please work in me and show me how to enact wisdom in a world filled with pain and a heart that is broken. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 7: 13-29

Chapter 7: 13-29: Consider the work of God:

Laguna de Llanganuco | Yungay, Peru 

We cannot fix what is broken within us by ourselves. We can assess, diagnose, discover, and believe we have found out what is broken inside of us, but we cannot fix it. Our pride will tell us that we can do it and we don't need to tell or show anyone else our brokenness, but that is a lie from the enemy. And in this scenario, the enemy is yourself. God created all things, including joy and adversity, He knows what is to come and what has been, He knows if we need prosperous moments or adversity on any given day, and He will draw us to Him via either avenue. His plan does not include us knowing what is to come. However, reflecting on my own personal life, I can see that God had a plan during the hardest times, I was blind to my own sin and I thought I was seeking Him, but I wasn't. He allowed me to suffer for my betterment. Solomon mentions that he has seen everything unfold throughout his life and says: "Be not overly righteous, …" which is an incredible depth filled statement. The more we grow in wisdom the better we can live, and the more we can gain righteousness, the more pride will build in us. If we are nonstop attempting to be more and more righteous we will eventually be drowning in our own "righteousness" because there is not a single righteous man on earth. We are all wicked, we are all broken and in need of redemption. There is no man who has not sinned (outside of Jesus Christ, naturally). The day we begin to see ourselves as righteous people is the day we need to seek those around us that we love and confess the pride within our hearts to them. We are nothing without Christ on the cross. He is the righteous one, He is the doer of all good things, to Him goes the glory, not us. It is the Holy Spirit within us, only because of Christ's sacrifice, that anything good comes from us. This is one of the most freeing things we can imagine because we just have to fall on our faces and bow before Him and seek Him. We have the perfect example of how we should live out our lives and Christ is there in every aching moment encouraging us that it will be okay and this is just a fleeting moment in eternity. He is holding our hand as we are broken down and get dragged through the muck and mud that life can be and he just wants us to place our eyes on Him and see that He will bring us through it, we just have to trust Him. He is enough, He is enough. This is the most important thing to remember in life and it will give us the freedom not to take what people say about us as a personal insult, who hasn't cursed someone (whether out loud or in your mind), no man is better than the next man when it comes to God's view of us. Solomon tested all the things of the world through his God-given wisdom and saw all was vanity, why should we (who aren't nearly as wise as Solomon) try this as well? It is meaningless. He set his life to the idea of wisdom and knowing the scheme of all things and in the end found something that he experienced that was worse than anything else, including death, a woman. He says: "He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her." What! Solomon, you have 700 wives and 300 concubines and you find that nothing on earth is worse than a woman? How is this possible? You are having more sex than any other man in the history of mankind. You are not lacking in any type of physical attribute you desire, you have your choice of anything you want each minute of every day, and you say that He who pleases God escapes the grasp of a woman? Speaking from experience, it isn't women that Solomon hates, it is himself and the sexual issue that he has within him from having over 1,000 different sexual partners. He has lost all sense of seeking to know the soul within the woman, he sees only her body; curves, lips, breasts, etc. and cannot overcome the void within him that seeks connection. Therefore, he continues to add more wives and more concubines. He cannot make his heart overcome his lustful eyes and it is far beyond the point of healing. His mind is so perverted from sex that he cannot see anything but a physical body as he stares at any of his wives or concubines. Solomon, in the beginning, was seeking out a soul-to-soul connection and he never found it. He sought out the physical in the end and it ruined his mind, heart, and vision of women. This is what we do when we sit down to watch pornography. It is not just porn, it is something that is completely changing the way we see a human being. This cannot be overlooked or brushed under the mat as a secret sin that we can overcome by ourselves or say: "It isn't a big deal." It is of the utmost importance if you ever want to feel close to a woman that you seek help to overcome pornography addiction. Porn will gut you of your respect, love, admiration for women and completely change the way you see them. They do not deserve to be treated as bodies for our enjoyment they are daughters of the King of all Kings and our creator-God. I am guilty of this and it is a regret that I have had since I was 16 years old. Yes, you will "feel" better and you can be happy from viewing pornography (for a very small fleeting moment), but you won't see what it is doing to you or how it is shaping your mind and heart away from God's purposeful creation and into your own perversion. True satisfaction and joy come from making love to a woman's soul, not her body. Seek to know who she is and understand what makes her unique from the rest of the world, appreciate her, love her, marry her and then you can enjoy the fruits of God's design. God put boundaries in place around sex for our own good and if we truly want to be happy and find lasting joy through sex we will follow them. If you are struggling with pornography, tell someone who will rebuke it and help you overcome it. Do not go to someone who will just treat it as a minor issue and allow you to continue to give-in to ruining your perception of women. It is better that you're exposed to porn than never being able to have a relationship with the opposite sex because you only see a body. Christ is enough. Forget your pride (which is always misplaced) for one second, it is irrelevant. Forget about what people think about you for one iota and see that Christ redeems all things. It took me almost 10 years to overcome pornography and it is just the beginning of a lifelong battle of cleansing my heart and mind from things I have seen and regret, but He is enough. Solomon mentions that he never found a woman he had a deep and soulful connection with and he only had 1 male friend out of 1,000 where they were sincere and open and honest with each other about their lives. (I am extremely blessed to have 2 such friends who I feel I can go to with anything, yet, it wasn't always that way for me. But I have lied to them many times as well throughout my life.) This is something that we are even worse at today, a soulful connection with another human being. This is why 70% of marriages end in divorce, women are abused and alone, children go through life without parents, people feel completely isolated and cannot endure another day of life on earth because we are all broken and we don't seek soulful connection, we seek the easier things in relationships and remove the idea of truly getting to know one another. If we want to have true friendship and love we must learn to seek the soul of others, not their temporary body. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you will work in my filthy heart to purify me through whatever means necessary. My mind, heart and soul have been perverted much like Solomons and I lack the wisdom to be able to overcome my own iniquities. I am helpless without you. Draw near to me and save me from myself. Mark 9:24 "... I believe; help my unbelief!" Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 7: 1-12

Chapter 7: 1-12: The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly:

The Green Dragon | The Shire, Matamata, New Zealand

Solomon wants us to remember that he has done everything to the absolute fullest throughout these verses, context is king. He attained all pleasures, riches, possessions, desires, and everything we pursue today, and did it well beyond anything we will ever be able to accomplish. We can attempt to make ourselves more desirable by being fit, driving a nice car, wear nice clothing, have a huge mansion - however, if we don't live in a way that loves others and honors God, it is all pointless - but in the end, regardless of what the external body presents, people value character. I long to have depth! I don't want to be known only for external attributes. Something that we all share is that our external body will perish one day. Death is the ultimate re-birth of us because we are entering into glory and our full potential will breakthrough because we will be perfect in Him. Death is to be celebrated! (This does not mean we shouldn't mourn or cry for those we love who have passed, that is right and good, but in the end, they have escaped from the bondage of earth.) This is the Christian truth in death. Witnessing a funeral is better for us than the best party we could rage on at because we have a reminder to analyze where we are in our own life. Funerals are better for us than New Year's Eve at 11:59 pm. Why? Because parties only reveal surface-level things and never delve deep into our hearts. Death reveals to us the issues that we have in our own life, we can dive deep into our hearts and souls and seek help from the master surgeon (God). Those who are wise will seek their pastor, elders, family, brothers, and sisters in Christ during mourning. The fools will drown their sorrows with sex, alcohol, drugs, activities, trinkets or toys, etc. Numbing our pain is a foolish choice, we must diagnose and treat the sin and brokenness within us. We should surround ourselves with those who truly care for who we are on the inside, not what we show on the outside. It is better for us to have someone who will tell us when we have done something wrong, not a yes-man. The confrontation of sin is one of the greatest gifts from a loving friend. The wisest of people will surround themselves with people who will see evil, sin, or wrong acts and call them out. The fool will surround themselves with other fools who only sing praises to one another, regardless of what they do. The fool will be drowning in the middle of a sea of sin and won't admit that anything is wrong. They will remain positive throughout the ordeal and it will kill them in the end. The wise man screams in agony and says: "I'm drowning! Save me! I need help!" We cannot save ourselves. We do this every day that we live in secret sin and disregard it as something we can handle without admitting it to anyone. We must admit that we are sinners and show God's redemption through our sin. Only He can make straight the path of the wicked. We cannot just learn the language and go through the motions while we are drowning in the middle of the sea. It is okay for us to struggle, it is okay for us to admit we need help, it is okay that we fall short, everyone does! We cannot allow our pride to destroy our lives and let us die in vain. Take the time to analyze your heart and see the wickedness within yourself. I know, as I analyze my own heart, that I am a very wicked, twisted, perverted man who struggles (and has struggled) with many different issues. From pornography to debauchery, lust to hate, dishonesty, and pride. My heart is far from God, but I long to be fully cleansed. It took me until the age of 24 to finally have my pride broken and seek counseling for many issues including being a pathological liar, who was lost in a world of self-seeking pleasure. It took extreme circumstances for God to break me down and show me how lost I was and how I had hurt others through it. However, God knew what it would take to bring me to my knees sobbing, and then restore me in Him. He lifted my head from the tear-stained dirt and He shattered the walls I had placed around me. The pain comes when we are honest and open with those we love and cherish, but, the beauty of the Gospel is that you are free from the bondage of surface-level relationships. We can be free to love others regardless of where they are in life. Life isn't about earning our salvation, we can put behind us the shallowness of our world and seek more than just sex with physical beings but begin to love souls. The power of loving someone's soul is far greater than any love that can come from loving a physical body. It isn't real, it is a fake-love that will never satisfy. The body will wither and die, our souls will live forever. We should long to make love to our spouse's soul and seek satisfaction from bringing one another joy through the splendor of God's ever-giving grace. This is beautiful. This is true love-making. This is God's plan for marriage: Enjoy one another through a life of stirring one another's affections for Christ and experiencing His creation while cultivating relationships. He wants us to experience the fullness of His creation and seek the joy that can only be found in Him. He is our prize. We must place our focus on the end goal. 

"Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind." - C.S. Lewis                                   

If we present ourselves in a humble and honest way, we will build a respectful name for ourselves (generally speaking, of course) within our community. This is a part of how we are being called to live in order to spread the word of the Gospel as Christians. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you will place on my heart the conviction of my current sins and engage me in a war against them. Put in me the freedom to share my sins freely so that they may be seen and not kept secret. Allow me the power to release the bondage of sin that is on my heart and cling to you. Amen. 

 All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Satisfaction Fleeting:

Little Stony Man | Shenandoah National Park

Those who have everything they could ever want and desire may seem to be the most blessed people that walk the earth. One of the things about the Gospel is that people rarely give their lives over to Christ when they are extremely comfortable and loving life. Jesus spoke on this: "… Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23-24 | This is an extremely prevalent issue in the United States today, we want for nothing in life and it puts us in a state of comfort where we only focus on obtaining trinkets and toys that are marketed to us as fulfilling and life-changing. We are so engrossed with ourselves and our pride runs so deep within us that without some sort of hardship or turmoil it is very easy to feel that we don't need God. We have created a culture that revolves around doing only what we want to do. Even when we "give-up" our time to help others with a project, mission, or assisting those less fortunate than ourselves - it is done out of a selfish heart. We embolden ourselves and post-pictures of us doing "great things" for others but it comes with a lot of pride about what we did and why we did it. Where are the meekness and humility? Isn't that what we are professing to be when we call ourselves Christ-like? I am not saying we shouldn't help others, I am saying we need to check our own hearts in the midst of helping others and analyze the why behind the things we do. (We are missing out if we help others for the wrong reasons.)  Introspection and diving deep into why we do what we do is a lost art and it damages our society. Surface level interactions produce surface-level relationships and they never fulfill us. We all have an eternity-sized hole in our soul that we constantly try to fill with earthly things and they never satisfy. Better to be dead in the womb and never exist than to be born into a world of vanity. Better to never live? Yes, it would be better to die in the womb than to be born if - during our time on earth - we never find the only thing that can satisfy our deepest longing. We have within us this deep desire to be known by others and to be seen for who we truly are and connect. This comes from us knowing we are in a fallen world and things are not the way they should be. It doesn't matter how long we are on this earth; 1 year, 10 years, 20 years, 50, 100, 1,000. We all die and go back to the ground and if we don't seek God and understand He is the alpha and omega, all is meaningless. Spouse, children, friends, parents, grandparents, achievements, money, fame, sex, power all are meaningless without having Christ at the center. We can enjoy all of those apart from Christ, that is common grace, but we will never fully experience the joy that can be found in others if we don't root ourselves in His everlasting glory. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8. We are called to think on the things of God and know that He is our hope and refuge, no trinkets or toys can save us.

They argue that this is a curse in reverse if you will. You would never assume that someone who has billions of dollars would be a miserable human being searching for the meaning of life, surely they found it through all of their money and lavish living, right? Maybe, but it is not likely.

We cannot be satisfied by this world because we are not meant to stay here. It is a temporary shed for our eternal souls. There is no distinction between those who are wise and those who are foolish, the rich or the poor, the strong or the weak, because in the end, if Christ does not come and save us, we all share the same fate. Without Him, we are meaningless. Through Him, we are able to enjoy our lives regardless of our circumstances and it has everything to do with Him and nothing we ourselves bring to the table. |"The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be." - Carl Sagan | When Carl Sagan made this statement he was not saying that God created the cosmos. However, he was agreeing with Solomon that there is nothing new under the sun. (Whether or not he knew that.) It is true since the creation of the universe there has not been anything added to it nor taken away from it. All things came to be through God's word and the universe has been expanding ever since He spoke it into existence. All matter was created from one single point of nothingness and has brought us to the point in time that we are at right now. This universe will continue on-and-on until the end of time and nothing new will come from it. We will dwell on our small earth revolving around a single fascinating star with a collection of mediocre planets. In the vastness of the universe, we are not even a speck within it. However, there is a purpose to be found if we know the creator, only He can show us the way to true life because He invented all things. (And all who call upon His name can be called son or daughter of the living God.) He created man and woman in His image in order to cultivate the earth and bring beauty to it. We failed and live in a post-Genesis 3 world. But, through Him, all things work together for our good and His glory. That does not mean we will only have good things happen to us or that we will be happy throughout our entire life. It means we can endure through any hardships that come our way because our hope is not in this earth, it is in an eternal joy that is found in Christ. This is our answer to verse 12 when Solomon asks: "For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?" Christ is good, Christ is the way to live under the sun.

Dear Lord, I pray that will you press these ideas and thoughts deep into my heart and encourage me to draw life from you and not this earth. Make me into a man who dwells on his thoughts and actions and lives a life of meekness and humility. Let me be a blessing to those around me by showing them your light that dwells within me. Amen. 

 All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Fear God:

Old Rag Mountain | Sperryville, Virginia 

We should not approach God's house half-heartedly. It should not be a careless happening where we wander into His house. We should acknowledge what we are doing and prepare to enter the house of the Lord. When I see "house of the Lord," I think of church, Bible study, communion, prayer, and especially death. We are all living a life where we must, at some point, learn how we are to die. God lays out a plan for our lives and it is tied to our soul. He calls us to be His servants and rejoice in him, however, it cannot be foolishly done. God knows all things before they are and He knows our hearts condition when we approach Him through any of the previously above-mentioned avenues. The more we talk, the less genuine we will be. This is a part of the message. If you have ever noticed someone who loves to talk and talk and talk (If you haven't noticed someone, YOU are probably the one jabbering on-and-on on) endlessly, especially about themselves, they are more than likely insecure and not a genuine individual. Silence is something they cannot handle because introspection begins to creep into their thoughts and they cannot lie dormant for fear of being found out as a fraud. [Good news: We are all frauds and have fallen short of the glory of the Lord.] Empty promises and statements, especially to the Lord, are pointless and will only bring us grief in the end. 

I have struggled with this immensely throughout my 27 years of life, saying things just to say them, lying in order to be seen in a better way, praising myself through lies in order to gain respect from others, lying to protect myself from harm, misleading others and use my silver tongue to persuade others to do things for me. All of it has been in vain and never produced anything that was fulfilling or gratifying. It left me in a state of disliking myself because everyone only knew a fake-me. Ironically, when I began to share my lies and open up to those around me I discovered that they actually did love me for who I truly am, it didn't matter what things I had done, etc. they loved me for who I am. Regardless of the lies, deceit, etc. One of the hardest things in life is to approach those you love with the truth that you have been lying to them for years about a lot of random things. However, it is always worth the pain. I have allowed my mouth to lead me into sin and it never satisfies me.

It angers God when we bring Him lies and a dishonest heart, He is the giver of grace, if we cannot come to Him in honesty, whom can we go to? I would analyze your talks with God and see how open you are with Him. He knows all things, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't open up our hearts to Him and confess. Vanity comes when too much is said and there is little action. We must fear God, not the opinions of man.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor:

We shouldn't be shocked that people are oppressed or discriminated against because all are sinners, even those who are wealthy and powerful. (It is harder for a wealthy or powerful person to see their own sin because they don't feel they need God's assistance, why would they? They are seemingly powerful without Him?) All humans experience common grace; life, money, sex, nature, food, water, happy moments, etc. Those who rule over others - especially those who don't call Christ their King - will usually oppress those at the bottom of the barrel within their business. Ironically, both will be unsatisfied with life, the CEO and the Entry Level Worker, if they don't work in humility for God's glory, not their own. Why? Because they cannot obtain enough money to bring joy, it is vanity. There is no number in my checking account that is able to bring everlasting joy. Can it bring temporary happiness? Absolutely! Can it make me feel better about myself? For a little while. But, once I notice someone else who has more than me, it will lose its satisfaction. If we are working hard for that which we have it will be far sweeter than barely working and having everything we want. We should go to bed tired from our days work, not bored from the daily activities. Boredom at night leads to many terrible things.

If we are smart with our money and are good stewards of the blessings God has given to us, we can share this with those around us and show the love of Christ through giving. Why should I obtain more and more prior to dying? It is pointless to waste these gifts on death when they could be used in life. Just as we came into this world, we shall leave it. We should be enjoying the struggle of life alongside friends, family and share the love of Christ with those who do not know Him. Not because we have earned it, but because Christ died for us to be free from sin and praise His name all of our days. In my mind, sitting at a table and enjoying a meal with good conversation is one of the holiest things we can do throughout the week. We are breaking bread together and sharing our lives with God's pinnacle creation and we can glorify Him through this. We should find enjoyment in our hard work and share the bounty with others in love for Him and His creation. God gives us everything we have ever had, currently possess, and ever will have. He blesses us so that we might enjoy Him more. I want to fill my life with things that stir my affections for Christ and enjoy them thoroughly. If we lose sight of Him, we will be left empty and hollow.

 Dear Lord, I hope that I don't remember all the days of my life because I am so filled with deep meaningful fulfillment of God occupying my heart. I pray that you will stir my affections for you with many different things and show me how to understand what draws me closer to you. Amen.

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