WEDNESDAY: WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Oct 19, 2022
2 min read

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Moreover, I saw under the sun: in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? So, I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

When the ability to judge between good and evil disappears, then wickedness and evil prevails. When the ability to know what is right and wrong disappears, then iniquity and sin run rampant.

The truth is that God judges the righteous and the wicked. There is a time for every purpose and for every work under heaven. Some of the works in history God has used for His great purpose include the great flood of Noah and the crucifixion of Jesus. God can use the good as well as the bad to accomplish His work in my life.

If I perceive myself to be like an animal, then my perception is clouded in my sin nature. I am created in God’s image. My sin nature tells me I can rejoice in my own works because that is my heritage.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

Only God can bring me to see what will happen after me. If I rejoice in my own works, then I am clouded by my own sin. God’s purpose for me exceeds my life on this earth.

God has created me to rejoice in His work. Sometimes His work brings me personal pain (for example, when He calls a loved one home to be with Him), and sometimes His work brings me great joy. If I look at His work from His point of view, I can rejoice in ALL His work all the time.

My heritage is not tied to what I do for myself; my heritage is determined by what He is constantly doing for me throughout my earthly and eternal life.

Lord, thank You for the heritage You have given me in You. I rejoice in all the works You continue to do in my life! Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman