Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The Mystery of Time
3 There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;[a]
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate[b] in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts,[c] but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the[d] good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.[e]
Under Pastor Will’s current thematic study “What’s the Point” I would like to focus on this topic “Human Condition”. I know that it almost sounds like a prognosis, “Human Condition”. But it is something that Christians must contend with in light of eternity. There are two definitions that I would like you to consider regarding “Human Condition”:
Worldview according to AI:
The human condition is a broad term that refers to the characteristics, experiences, and challenges of being human. It includes the positive and negative aspects of human life, such as:
birth, learning, emotion, aspiration, reason, morality, conflict, death, reproduction, and survival.
Life Example
I have embarked on this journey in addition to everything else that I have going on in my life (as if I had more time) I decided that it was time for me to finish my PhD in Higher Education at OSU. We look at this human condition scenario from a scholarly point of view. When researchers look at issues such as the human condition that must first decide what is the correct philosophical perspective or worldview often referred to as a paradigm. Then we must decide what ontological or approach to take (positivist, post-positivist, interpretivist, constructivist, post-constructivist, or pragmatist). Then the researcher must decide on a methodology qualitative or quantitative; As I looked around the room during class at my colleagues, I asked myself what I am doing here.
As we read these journal articles that these scholars have researched and put together that they are no closer to answer than they were at the beginning of the research study. All they could is report and they cannot tell you “The Why”.
Christian Perspective:
French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal said, “Man’s greatness and wretchedness are so evident that the true religion must necessarily teach both.” Any philosophy that cannot fully account for human greatness and human depravity at the same time should be abandoned because it misses something obvious about the human condition. Christianity has a valid explanation for human greatness: people are made in God’s image. Thus, we have dignity, value, and capacity. Christianity also explains human evil: the image of God has been defaced by sin. Our great capacity gets used for the wrong purposes. Our creativity is placed in the service of evil and our best intentions twisted for selfish gain.
As Solomon has found in the text during his journey apart from God there was no satisfaction or completeness. There was always a piece of the puzzle that was missing.
But when as a believer that a step back and take a 30,000 ft. view from scripture we will find that God has an appropriate time for everything.
Text Excerpt:
3 There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;[a]
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
Let’s stop here for a minute:
Soloman is discussion to very specific things here.
A Point in Time
And a season (this translation utilizing occasion) but think in terms of duration
Sometimes believers have a problem with duration. Sometimes we can get frustrated when we get held up or stuck in a place for longer than we think we need to be or not long enough.
Let me give you an example:
Talk about the story from California to Smallcakes
Text Excerpt:
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
In the text the author Solomon goes on this poetic discourse utilizing 14 polar opposites of which each happens in its time.
The Walvoord Zuck Commentary says this:
The fact that Soloman utilized polar opposites in multiples of seven and began his last with birth and death is highly significant. The number seven suggests the idea of completeness and the use of polar opposites is a well-known poetic devise called merism (indicating everything – totality)
By the time Soloman has arrived at the end of his poetic discourse he has had an epiphany and “Ahah moment”. We as believers must understand as Soloman is writing this poem he is going through a process of self-reflection and in that moment and he realized (3) important things:
He has made everything appropriate[b] in its time.
He has also put eternity in their hearts
man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end
He has made everything appropriate[b] in its time.
I would like to utilize the apostle Paul here as a comparison scripture here found in Philippines 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
He has also put eternity in their hearts
I am going back to the apostle Paul here again 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV)
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Songwriter James Herndon wrote:
“I’m just a stranger, yes, I am
And I’m traveling through this barren land
I know there’s a building
A building not made by hand”
Man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end
Luke 15: 17-24 (NIV)
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Closing Thoughts
Excerpt from Text:
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the[d] good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.[e]
Isaiah 40: 3-9 (New King James Version)
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight [b]in the desert
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made [c]straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 The voice said, “Cry out!”
And [d]he said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”
9 O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
As I bring this message to close, I want to share an experience that I had the other day. My wife and I live in a rural area of Stillwater. I was out in the backyard. We have two dogs. A 5-month-old German shepherd and a 2 year old huskie. I was inspecting the yard. Because of our schedules I haven’t been in the yard to attend to it in cool minute. Needless to say, there was a lot of stuff laying around the yard. So, what did I do? I grabbed my trash can and a shovel and I started working in the yard. As I began to work the yard, I thought to myself, “This is what it must have been like for Moses”. Shoveling. Then I believe God spoke to me. I felt like He said, “Alan this yard did not get like this overnight.” It took me at least an hour to shovel all that stuff up and put in the trash can. And the problem is I will go out there and do the job again sooner or later. You see I have to perform regular maintenance on my backyard because my dogs will continue to go through there process and their expectation is for me to continue to go through mine so they a place to go.
Now here is the deal, we carry stuff around in our hearts and minds, and just like all that stuff in my backyard, we allow to linger and grow, and fester, and we often wonder how we got to that point in our lives. But remember, this did not happen overnight. But God can and will deliver you out of your circumstance and condition, so you don’t have to deal with it, like I have to return and do maintenance on the yard, but
HE WILL TRANSFORM YOU FROM THE INSIDE INTO THE MAN OR THE WOMEN HE CREATED AND REDEEMED YOU TO BE!
BUT YOU MUST OPEN YOUR MOUTH ANS ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE!