A Time To Remember

Over the past few days, I have been reading the book of Ecclesiastes. At times I have become somewhat solemn. As I read the words of Solomon, I see a man that saw life in a way so many of us do not.
He often says that, “all is vanity”. No matter how much you do to build your life here on earth, one day you will die and all your work falls into the hands of another. He continues to state that you have no control of what happens to the work you have done here once you leave this world, and can only hope that a good person will receive what you have worked for and do good with it.
As I continued to read, I must admit that my heart was heavy. I wanted to say, “No your wrong!” But my heart knew he was right. You see this world, and all that is in it, will one day pass away. All that is built, all that is accomplished and all that is temporal, will one day be no more.
So I took a moment to look back on my life. I took some time to ask myself what have I done with my life. Have I built anything that will last? Have I changed people, have I helped people know that there is so much more than what we see, what we can touch? Have I understood that only those things done for God matter? Have I chosen to not have the temporal things of this world so to gain the eternal things of the world to come?
As Solomon closes Ecclesiastes, he states one of the greatest truths in all of scripture. In Ecclesiastes 21:13 & 14 he states, “Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
So today take time to remember your life and ask yourself if you are working for the things of God or against them?

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.”

Have you ever seen a marathon runner that is very weary with their hands and arms hanging, shoulders drooping, knees and legs weak? This is the picture the author is painting.
The verse above is Hebrews 12:12. The author is saying that we who know Christ sometimes feel like giving up because of God’s discipline. However, because of Christ, we should pick up our hanging head and strengthen our weak knees. We have a source of power that the world does not. We should draw on the power of Christ when we feel we can’t go on. God will discipline those he loves, so that we will become more like his Son. God’s goal for us is not our temporal happiness or comfort, but for us to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
So the author is telling us that God’s discipline will make us feel weary and tired, but we are to respond to this discipline by turning from our sin, lifting our head and strengthening our knees. We are do to this, so God will no longer need to discipline us, allowing Him to better use us for the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. Know that God is disciplining so you will turn from your sin back to Him. He loves you too much to let you live in sin, when you can be living in His freedom and peace.