Title: Longing for Eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11-15)
Contents
The World Championships in Athletics is currently being held in Daegu, and most of the athletes who have spent at least two years and at least ten years in hard training to run and run 'faster, higher, a little further' even in the heat of over 30 degrees Celsius. is. The record for this competition is so low that there is a saying, ‘The graves of stars, the curse of the daily program cover model’. No matter how good the world record holder is, even if the record is good in practice, if the performance in the actual race is poor, that's the end. Of course, it is said that sports have meaning in participation itself, but the reality is not. Only the winners are cheered, and the last ones don't care.
The same goes for audition programs that are trending these days. People who appear on programs such as ‘Superstar K 3’ or ‘I Am a Singer’ do not know how much sweat, practice, and effort to stand on the final stage.
Likewise, our life on this earth can be said to be like practice for competitions and performances by athletes and singers. This is because life will enjoy eternity in the kingdom of God in the future, which is much longer than the time we currently spend on earth.
In the text, it says, “God made everything beautiful in its time, and He also gave men a heart for eternity” (v. This means that we have an instinct to desire eternal life, and that God made life into an eternal being just like his own attributes.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1 there is a very interesting expression. He said, 'If our tent on earth falls, we know that we have a house made by God, an eternal house in heaven, not made with hands.' The body is calling it 'home'. The tabernacle is a temporary place, but the house is a permanent place. These words also make it clear that what we are living here now is a temporary life and a preparation for the eternal life in the future. Those who realize this fact will surely lead a different life from the past. All things can be done right by faith. In particular, you will come to realize that the goals or values that have been important to you are not so big as to risk your life.
change of values
Those who yearn for eternity will change their view of life. You will be able to use your time and money more wisely and beneficially, and you will place more weight on your relationship with God and change in your faith than on fame, wealth, achievement or satisfaction. At the same time, lifestyles that are sensitive to fashion or prefer and pursue things that many people like (eg luxury goods) are considered worthless. In that sense, Paul said, 'But whatever was useful to me, I counted all things as loss for the sake of Christ, and all things as loss, because the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord is the noblest' (Philippians 3:7-8). confessed. That is, ‘I once thought that things in the world were very important and everything. But now, because of what Christ has done for me, I have come to regard them as insignificant.”
If the present world is our whole life, from now on, we can live our lives as we please. You have to live a good and moral life, and you won't even have to think about taking responsibility for your own actions. However, since death is not the end, but the moment of transition to eternal life, life in this world continues to have an effect on eternal life after death. Therefore, the most to be avoided in the present life is short-sighted thinking. From now on, we must paint a picture of eternal life in our minds. In addition, the preciousness and value of eternal life must be engraved in our hearts. The present life is like the tip of the iceberg (1/10) floating on the water, and the kingdom of God, which enjoys eternal life, is like a mass of iceberg (9/10) that is invisible and submerged in the sea.
We cannot easily imagine eternal life, a life with God forever. Our heads cannot comprehend the greatness of God and the kingdom of God. It's like explaining to an ant how to use the Internet, he can't understand it. Just as ants cannot understand human speech and how the Internet works, human words cannot easily explain the fact that they live forever. Therefore, the Bible says, “As it is written, eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, nor the heart of man has conceived all the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
However, even if we cannot fully understand it, God is showing us a little bit of eternal life through the Bible. We know that God has prepared an eternal home for us. In the kingdom of God where there will be no more pain and sorrow, we will be reunited with our loved ones of faith and live the life we want. Therefore, please be assured that in the kingdom of God, you will have a relationship of perfect love with God that will not be broken or weakened.
God's Perspective
How we view life changes our lives. In general, we care about how we spend our time, how we manage our money, how we use our talents, and how much weight we place on our relationships. If you think of your life as a party, you will pursue pleasure; if you see it as a race, you value speed; if you see it as a marathon, you value patience; if you think of it as a war or a game, victory is the most important thing. is.
The Bible calls our life a series of trials. God is constantly testing our faith, obedience, love, and loyalty. Therefore, words such as temptation, temptation, and refinement appear 200 times throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve did not pass the test of overcoming temptation, neither did David. But Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, and others passed the test. Our character or our beliefs are changed or refined by these tests. God is watching how we react to what is happening around us.
Those who thus realize that life itself is a test will also find that nothing is unimportant to them. You will find that every day is an important day, and that every moment is an opportunity to develop character, practice love, and build faith. The good news for us in this situation is that God wants us to pass every test, and He doesn't give us any other tests other than what we can handle. Therefore, “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10). :13) said.
It also says that our life is a life of stewardship. Time, money, and talent are things that God has entrusted to us for a short time to manage. “The earth, and all that is in it, and the world, and all that dwell in it, belong to the Lord” (Psalm 24:1) Therefore, while we are on this earth for a little while, we have nothing of our own, but we should think of it as that God has entrusted us with everything for a little while.
People in the world think that they should not care about things that are not theirs, but believers should have the idea that ‘everything belongs to God, so we should do our best to manage them’. At the end of our life on this earth, we will be evaluated for how well we have managed the things God has entrusted to us, and we will be rewarded according to the results. As it is said, “Good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). From now on, by doing everything from God's perspective, I hope you will live so that you will receive praise and rewards in the future.
temporary earthly life
In the Bible, our lives are expressed as 'fog', 'one breath', and 'a stream of smoke'. In order to live this momentary and temporary life effectively, we must not forget that 'life on this earth is very short compared to eternal life' and that 'this earth is a place where we live temporarily'. So David prayed, “O LORD, make known my end and how long my days are, that I may know my weakness” (Psalm 39:4). Peter also exhorted, “As ye call him Father, who judges according to each man's works, let ye be sojourners in fear” (1 Peter 1:17).
Again, we must recognize that our hometown is the kingdom of God and this world is a stranger's way. When you realize this clearly, you can give up your attachment to worldly things. God says how wrong it is for us to live only for the world. “Women who commit adultery, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4)
There was a missionary who retired and returned to his country after having spent his whole life doing difficult missions in remote areas of Africa. While he was returning home, he happened to see the President of the United States returning from a foreign tour. In contrast to the president, who walked out on a red carpet, listening to the military band's welcome music amid the cheers of many people, the missionary was humble with no one to welcome him. In such a situation, a moment of self-pity fell into anger. Then God spoke softly to him. “My dear son, are you not home yet?”
That's right. The missionary's true hometown was the kingdom of God, and when he returns to that place one day, he will receive as much hospitality as the President of the United States. When life becomes difficult, the clouds of doubt come, and the Christian life for Jesus Christ feels difficult, remember that we have not yet returned to our homeland, and I hope you overcome it with longing for eternity.