Hello again, Brothers and Sisters!
I decided that today, we’re going to take a quick break from the discussion of Hell. For one thing: annihilationism turned out to be a bigger subject than I expected, so I need a couple of extra days to make a good case against it. Second, all this reading about just one subject is leaving me a little burnt out, and y’all deserve better.
(Pause for dramatic effect)
(cue crickets chirping)
Okay fine, it was a horrible pun, but I know what some of y’all are thinking, and that’s not nice.
So anyway…. Today we’re going to start with a quick bit of encouragement to start the week off right. Let’s take a look at something Solomon has to say, in Ecclesiastes, chapter 5:
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and to enjoy oneself in all one’s laboring which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. (5:18-20)
In chapter 6, v. 12, Solomon says,
For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
Now, I’m just going to give you my impression of what these verses mean; maybe you’ll take something else from them, but to me this says, “Live for today. Don’t worry about your ‘legacy;’ don’t worry about tomorrow; give God everything you have right now.”
God will take care of the rest.
In Psalm 49 (one of my favorites), the psalmist says:
Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes
surrounds me,
Even those who trust in their wealth,
And boast in the abundance of their
riches?
No man can by any means redeem his
brother,
Or give to God a ransom for him—
For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
That he should live on eternally;
That he should not undergo decay.
For he sees that even wise men die;
The stupid and the senseless alike
perish,
and leave their wealth to others.
Their inner thought is, that their
houses are forever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have called their lands after their
own names.
But man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.
This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who approve their words.
(vv. 5-13, emphasis mine)
Once we’re gone, we’re gone, folks! We shouldn’t worry about what we’re going to leave behind; going back to Solomon, it’s all “vanity and striving after wind.” Best to live for God, now. As Pastor Reggie said on Sunday, we should live with a sense of expectancy that Christ is coming back today; so why would we hold back our best?
I’ll close with what Jesus had to say about the matter:
… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:33,34)
Have a great week brothers, and sisters! God bless us, every one.
See you Thursday!
Bethel Baptist Church: The Blog 