Ecclesiastes: Chapter 1

Chapter 1: All is Vanity

Garden of the Gods Park | Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Solomon, King of Jerusalem is writing Ecclesiastes as a reminder that we are stuck here on earth until God calls us home. We can attempt to store up things here on earth, but to what end? We can strive for success, riches, and all of the desires we have in our heart - but, we will be left unfulfilled and seeking more. Regardless of how much money, fame, children, or power we gain throughout our life, we will in the end perish and be placed in the ground from whence we came. Thus, why do we strive endlessly to ensure we are taken care of in this life? It is a healthy thing to be a steward of our body, but why are we stewarding it? What is the point of anything we do here on earth if it remains on earth? Verse 8: "All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." Solomon is speaking to the eternity we have within us and that we were wired for something well beyond earth's limitations and constrictions. All things on earth are condemned by sin; mountains, oceans, rivers, valleys, trees, plants, animals, etc. are all groaning (and have been since the fall) for the return of Christ. Why? Because perfection was broken and once sin entered the universe it cannot be taken away without the payment for sin: death. Christ came and died for us in order to restore all things in Him for us. Upon His return, all things will be made new and this body that I currently reside in will no longer restrict my wandering soul. The bounds by which I was brought into this earth will dissipate and I will be free to worship God in a way that is truly fulfilling for the rest of eternity. At the current time, I worship Him and it can be enriching, but it is vanity nonetheless, I have nothing within me that should allow me to glorify God. I try to clear my mind and open my heart, but there is so much between myself and God. Sin, anger, depression, guilt, shame, laziness, earthly possessions, pride, hate, resentment, etc. all of these things (and more) are a barrier between myself and God's perfect glory. I cannot escape the limits of the earth by my own power, only death can truly bring life and I can be brought into His presence.

Wisdom only brought Solomon more pain and knowledge of the fact that all here on earth truly is vanity and a striving after the wind. The more we learn of earth, galaxy, the universe is more examples/knowledge that we are missing out on something greater. He created all things merely with His word and the universe He created is to this day expanding in all directions. Simply with His word. We cannot fathom creating something from nothing, because, in our world, it is impossible. We simply cannot create without having something to create with and thus it is unfathomable to imagine true creation. Imagine being Solomon and having all the wisdom, far beyond any of us, and still being constricted to live here on earth. The more we learn about God - the more we long to be in His presence and understand more about Him. All on earth is folly in the presence of our almighty God. Earth is but a speck in His universe that he spoke into existence and yet He loves us more than anything else he created. We, the broken, were crafted in His image and we should strive - not after the wind - but strive after Him. Only then will we be able to experience joy, not just happiness. Happiness is fleeting, joy is everlasting. 

As I delve into Ecclesiastes over the next couple of weeks I am hoping that God will place on my heart, through the writings of Solomon, where I need growth and work in my own life. 

Lord, I pray that you will do what only you can draw me closer to you through whatever means; pain, anger, tears, happiness, all for your glory and my joy of being in you. Amen.

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