Beautiful in Time

          God has been speaking to me a lot through Proverbs and Ecclesiastes lately. One thing that has really stood out to me in my studies of the book of Ecclesiastes is the phrase "all is vanity... like grasping for wind" or as other translations say "everything is meaningless... like chasing the wind." Chasing the wind is a meaningless task, but sometimes there are moments in our life where it feels like that's all we're doing - running in circles, never really accomplishing anything, just grasping for something that's going to slip through our hands. Sometimes when we get caught up in these struggles and stresses of life, when we get down in a spiritual valley - we often wonder if everything really is meaningless. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and even he struggled with this. I've experienced this myself, especially being in college where I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life. Am I ever going to accomplish anything, or is all of this time and money going to waste? I know God has me here for a reason, and I know He's preparing me for the future He has planned for me. But in the meantime, am I helping to build God's kingdom or am I just chasing after the wind?

          So what does the phrase "all is vanity" even mean? The Strong's Hebrew definition of vanity is "a breath or a gentle breeze." When I read this I was reminded of James 4:14 which says, "You don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are like a vapor that appears for a little while and vanishes away." Solomon was wise because he made many foolish mistakes. He chased after the wind by buying big houses, planting vineyards, having and lot of wives and concubines, etc. But once he recognized the brevity of life, he realized that those things are meaningless. All is vanity, all is fleeting - like chasing the wind. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

          Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God has a hope filled plan and future for our lives, so we need to make the most of the time that He has given us. We need to invest our time in things of value, in things of worth, in things that will last - the things of God. These are the things that will help us to understand and fulfill God's plan for our lives. One of my favorite sayings of all time is "Carpe Diem" - Seize the Day. That's exactly what God is telling us in this scripture in Ephesians. He is saying, "Redeem the time" - seize it, take hold of it. Live life to the fullest, and make the most of every opportunity. Each of us was created by God for a distinct purpose. We are here for a reason, and each day that we are on this earth brings us one step closer to understanding why. We can't waste that time on the meaningless, passing things of this world. We need to seek God, seek His kingdom, seek His plan for our lives, and follow wherever He leads. Isaiah tells us that God's ways are higher than ours, and Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think. He has a plan and a purpose for all things. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die.

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which has been planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal.

A time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh.

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get, and a time to lose.

A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew.

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate.

A time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?

I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the word in their heart, 

so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from beginning to end.

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat, drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.

I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: Nothing can be put to it, 

nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been, 

and God requireth that which is past."

          This passage assures us that even in the moments of chaos, even when we feel like we're chasing the wind, like everything is meaningless - God is at work, and He makes everything beautiful in time. He requires that which is past, meaning even the hardest and darkest parts of our lives were necessary in order to bring us where we are today. There is a plan and a purpose for all things, all aspects of our lives, so we need to stop chasing the wind and start redeeming the time that God has given us. We need to make the most of every day, and use every opportunity He blesses us with to bring honor and glory to Him. 

*Things to Remember

1. There is a purpose for all things. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

          God is at work in every aspect of our lives, and He is working all things together for our good.

2. God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

          God takes our brokenness and forms it into somethings beautiful which will understand in time.

3. He requires that which has passed. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)

          God uses even the lowest points of our life for a divine and necessary purpose.