Today I want to just review and point out some things from this pervious study. Often when you do these types of studies, you might just be going through the motions of the study and sometimes miss something important that the author is trying to possibly point out. Let’s just go ahead and look at what we studied.
Ecclesiastes 3: (1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (2) a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; (3) a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; (4) a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (5) a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; (6) a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; (7) a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; (8) a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
At some part of our life, we have experienced many of these seasons. Very clear we will have ups and downs with our walk with Christ. No one is immune to this. Even those closest to God dealt with these situations. For 28 weeks we have looked at each "season” and dug into scripture. We only hit the surface, as we could literally spend years on this subject. For me it was enlightening and helped me understand situations I have been going through both good and bad. Many I struggle with. This passage and study sum up why things do happen. As I was just going back and reading, something came to my attention. In the Bible there are a lot of passages that deal with lists such as this one. In Ephesians 6 we have the Armor Of God, In Exodus 20 we have the Ten Commandments, In Galatians 5 we have the Fruits Of The Spirit, and there are many more. Have you ever wondered possibly why the order of the lists are what they are? We might be digging into those at a later study.
Here in Ecclesiastes 3 it starts with a "a time to be born”. That is the beginning for us. Even though the second this is "a time to die”, that really is not the end for us. In Christ we will have ever lasting life. (John 3:16). But the list here in Ecclesiastes finishes with a "time of peace”. Funny it did not ring to me last week as I studied that part. But in the passage we studied, look at all the good and bad we will experience. But in the very end we are to have a time of peace. Even through our worst times, In Christ we can have peace. I read a lot of personal accounts of soldiers during their time in combat. I always found it amazing how often they would describe a fellow soldier that during the most desperate and miserable time in combat sacrificed themselves for the sake of their comrades. Never batting and eye about it and as the author would say, the soldier knew what the outcome would be, but still had peace about the decision. I read stories like that that are heartbreaking but must think that person had a relationship with Christ and knew his death was not his end but would possibly save another.
I believe the author here in Ecclesiastes is trying to also relate the same to us. Times will be tough but end the end we can have peace. Not any peace the world can give us, but the kind of peace only Christ can give us. The end of this list is a time of peace. Our life here on earth ends with us entering in the presence of God, where we will be in a lifetime of peace in Heaven.
So today and this week, spend time meditating on what we just studied. Let it soak in. Let it bring new life to what we have studied.
Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
