Honor and obey your Creator while you're still young. Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes. Before your vision dims and the world blurs. And the winter years keep you close to the fire.
I don't know why, but around 50 we seems to close our minds to the current world. Many will talk about how much better it was when they were younger. The world is not as good a place as it once was. We don't seem to keep up and embrace the changes that take place and withdraw into a world made to make us right. It is an illusion we build. It is a shame and partially why I decided to teach at this age. I want to stay alert and live in the present. I have to admit, it is decidedly hard to do sometimes. That is the beauty of adolescents. They are in your face and call attention to the present. How much better is it to lead these young people to the higher purpose of life, rather than let them get skeptical and start the path to what Solomon refers to as "smoke". Perhaps they will be more in tune to the truth and less taken by the smoke.
In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. Any arguments here? The shades are pulled on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns blossom white. Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way the eternal rest. While your friends make plans for your funeral.
After my accident some years back, I began to sit down more. My back, hips and knee developed arthritis in short time and I developed type II diabetes. I was never one to be extremely athletic, but I kept moving. I am slowing down at 55. It troubles me and my complications make everything more troublesome to change. It comes to us all. All of our sins catch up with us around this time, unless your wisdom has kept you in shape and good health. Even though you try not to dwell upon it, it is just to the back of your mind to ponder with each movement that takes more time and effort than it ever did before. It is hard to come to terms with.
Life, while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. If youth only knew how quickly it comes, perhaps they would make better use of their time and the choices they make. This is the purpose of writing Ecclesiastes, and I think it is just the best story in the Bible sometimes, for the purpose and clarity of trying to teach us, and the children, the meaning and brevity of life. It's all smoke, nothing but smoke. The Quester says that everything's smoke.
THE FINAL WORD
Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined and arranged many proverbs. The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.
The words of the wise prod us to live well.
They're like nails hammered home, holding life together.
They are given by God, the one Shepherd.
But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out. so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:
Fear God.
Do what he tells you.
And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.
I don't know that I can add more than the direct, simplicity of this wisdom to a conclusion. I can only hope this journey through Ecclesiastes finds value in your soul and in your actions. We so desperately need to address the truth and avoid the manipulation society puts in front of us for profit at the cost of our souls. There is a purpose and accounting of our goodness and our sin. I think the violence and misery of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is such because our sin is great. But ponder this, how many other religions allow you to wipe those sins clean and give you a fresh slate by asking for forgiveness and allow you to move forward freed from our transgressions? It is that simple, but then again, you have to forgive yourself with the same resolution. God bless you, God bless all of us. Thank you for reading my blog. May it be of value to you and to this world we live in. Fear God. Do what he tells you.
This chapter was taken from The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson and my thoughts.
