THE MEANING OF LIFE: PART 1 OF 12

A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES......CHAPTER 1
"Vanity of Vanities"

As we noted in the previous post and Plumbline program, there is a lot of Hopelessness in the world today. In fact, many have no hope for change in their lives because their spiritual and current status in life are in a state of flux.

Much of that can be traced to complete unbelief in the real God of heaven and belief in the false god of America - which increasingly - is whatever you, the individual claim THAT god to be. What you believe in life, about life and concerning life, determines how you live that life.

Many never learn that Truth. In fact, Truth is in short supply. If a person is looking for truth in everything from church leaders down to public officials and increasingly perverse media, they are looking for both love and Truth in ALL the wrong places. God has given us the full measure of Truth, yet only few seek it.  He took even a completely corrupt and broken vessel - no, not an American politician - but King Solomon, who was suffering the consequences of decades of sinful leaving. God then used this man to send us a love letter of what life really is about.

You and I can find out that meaning, if we just dig into the true meaning of every word of every phrase of every verse of the great Book of Ecclesiastes. For the next two weeks or so, we will look at this book - Chapter by Chapter in 12 separate but intentional fluid teachings.  In a 1/2 hour TV program, all we can do is dig into the major themes of each chapter and then trust that you and I then find our own Bibles and read it in that context. Today's look at chapter 1 introduces us to the basic truism of the general overview of life. Not only is there nothing new under the sun, but Solomon is allowed to think like most modern day Americans and ask "what is the point of all of this"? 
READ ON...THEN WATCH.....

Ecclesiastes 1 

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Futility of All Endeavor

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “[a]Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“[b]Vanity of vanities! All is [c]vanity.”

3 What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth [d]remains forever.
5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets;
And [e]hastening to its place it rises there again.
6 [f]Blowing toward the south,
Then turning toward the north,
The wind continues [g]swirling along;
And on its circular courses the wind returns.
7 All the rivers [h]flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers [i]flow,
There they [j]flow again.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF CHAPTER 1 (from Bible Gateway)
THEN WATCH PLUMBLINE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:

ENJOYING FOREVER.....

 

MY LIFE VERSE: PSALM 27:4

Secondary Life verse tomorrow - Jeremiah 20:11

A Bible verse speaks to each of us in a different way at different times in our lives. While the verse itself has only one meaning - (that which the Lord meant to say) - each verse speaks to us differently, depending on our circumstances at the time we're reading it! This is the amazing thing about the Living, Breathing Word of God! There is no other Book like it, at any point in human history.

Some folks have a "Life verse", that which defines us and our walk with the Lord. The verse is also representative of our thinking and where we are at our sanctification. Our favorite verse could even show if we are being transformed into the image of His Wonderful Son Jesus...or do we think more in the flesh!  So without further ado, I wish to introduce you to my Life verse....what it says; what it means and how Scripture further interprets Scripture. My Life Verse looks forward to eternity and expresses my gratitude and total joy at just being allowed to be in the Presence of the Living God!

Now, my friends, is there any better thing you can think of?! Read on....

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple......Psalm 27:4 (ESV)


Psalm 27:4 begins “I have asked one thing from the Lord.” If you have one thing to ask of the Lord, what would it be? Solomon asked for a heart of wisdom and he was blessed beyond measure. The wisest man who ever lived wrote the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. Solomon, the son of the man who wrote Psalm 27, asked for wisdom but his life of unimaginable wealth and ease, corrupted his morals and his soul so much; he forgot why he asked for it in the first place!
Therefore making a powerful request before the Lord comes with responsibilities. Do not make them unless you intend to fulfill them….or in other words “be careful what you ask for!”  


The next phrase is “to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life”. Does this mean to take your bed into the church building? No! The word “dwell” should be interpreted as “abide”. Jesus said in John 15: 4-7 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. (Emphasis mine)


If you are a Saved, Sold out, Sanctified Son or daughter of the Savior, you will know what He means by “abiding in Him” - STAYING IN HIS WORD!! NOT just a set quiet time each morning where you worship, wait and then go to work, but a daily constant walk with Jesus who is called the WORD of God (In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, John 1:1). This walk is a lifetime spent of walking, talking, listening, worshipping, Praising Him in the Storm and discipling to Spiritual maturity.  You want to know Jesus? You wish to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of your life? KNOW THE BIBLE!


The next phrase says “gazing on the Beauty of the Lord”. The Book of Revelation describes the awesome vision of the Lord Jesus as He looks right now (read Revelation 1:9-16).  There is a powerful artist rendition of the King when He returns in Judgment after the Great Tribulation which I suggest you look it. Click on this link: www.thekingiscoming.com  and look at the home page. Jesus is not in a manger anymore. That was 2000 years ago! All through this powerful final book of the Bible, the Majestic, indescribable visions of He who sits on the Throne and His Son are described in powerful detail.  This confirms what Isaiah saw when God took him up into His Own Presence in Isaiah 6:1 “In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple”.


Isaiah was so filled in amazement and convicted immediately of his sin, he fell down in front of the Throne and cried out “Woe is me, I am ruined!” (vs.5). We are not in Heaven yet, so we are not yet dwelling for eternity with Jesus in the presence of the Holy One and His Angels. However, we can still gaze on His Beauty by marveling at His Word; tasting His Word; praising and praying to Him; adoring what His Hands have made and awaiting His Return!


Finally “and seeking Him in His Temple.”  Number 1: I would rather be a janitor in the Temple of the Living God than a prince of this dying world. Number 2: The good thing about seeking Him is: He can be found! Number 3: Seek Him primarily in His Word and then through prayer. One note about praying – in order to seek Him properly in prayer, spend most of your prayer time listening, being quiet and allowing Him to reveal Himself to you. This is Biblical. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” (NKJV)


…  “in His Temple”. The Hebrew word which King David used here is “HEKAL”. This word actually means “Tabernacle”. Here is what the writer of Hebrews said about the Tabernacle, which God told Moses to erect: “who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”Hebrews 8:5 (emphasis mine).


The temple or tabernacle described in our Bibles is not church as we are accustomed to. This Biblical tabernacle is a mere copy of the real temple of God, where God and His Son will be residing with mankind in the New Heavens and Earth described in Revelation 21! I like to interpret this phrase also as Christ would when He told the Pharisees that He could raise the Temple up in three days, even if they destroyed it. Little did those ignorant men know He was referring to the Body – the Temple of the Holy Spirit! So another way to seek Him in His Temple is to seek after Jesus in the actual Personhood of His Entire Being...right now, through Prayer, Praise and Bible study! Are you doing these things? If so, then double down and worship Jesus even more! It's great for the soul!


This  is what my favorite verse of Scripture means to me....and how about yours?! Pray about it and let the Lord show you a meaningful one, geared just for you, if you don't have one yet!
Amen.

MONDAYS WITH MOSHER (an occasional feature!)

THE CHECKOUT LANE

LYNN MOSHER

One of my favorite Christmas stories. Hope you don't mind the traditional rerun...

With the parking lot full, finding a space was almost impossible. Shopper after shopper filed in the store’s front door, list in hand, and most lacking the Christmas spirit. 

The lines at the checkout lanes stretched halfway through the store. As angers were on the verge of erupting, loneliness carved a swath through the throng of shoppers, fighting for a place in each line.

“Why don’t they have more checkout lanes open?” complained one shopper.

“I don’t know. This is so depressing,” grumbled another nearby.

Each lane had its share of Grinches and lonely hearts, each moaning over all the congestion. In one lane stood a mother with three small children in tow, all whining and wanting everything in sight. In the next lane stood another mother with her three little ones, all in a joyous mood. Six year-old Olivia asked her mother, “Mommy, why is everyone so grumpy?”

Lowering her voice so others wouldn’t hear their conversation, Olivia’s mother whispered, “I’m not sure, dear. I think everyone is in a hurry and they don’t know the meaning of Christmas.”

“Don’t they know it’s Jesus’ birthday?”

Trying to shush Olivia, she lowered her voice again, “I guess not. Some people just don’t know.”

“Well, why don’t we tell them?”

“I don’t think this is a very good time, dear.”

“Why not, Mommy? Didn’t you say it’s always time for Jesus?”

“Well, yes, I did, but…”

“Well, let’s tell them.”

Overhearing their conversation, those standing near this family began shifting their weight from one foot to another, uncomfortable as to what they might hear next. 

The mother began to silently pray, “Oh, Lord, if You desire others to know it is Your birthday that they’re supposed to be celebrating, then please resolve this situation.”

Olivia bowed her head and thought for a moment. Then, a very soft, little voice began to sweetly sing…

“Away in the manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”
Silence fell on the checkout lanes. All that could be heard was the whirring of the cash registers. No one said a word.

Then, that sweet little voice began to sing again…

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come;Let earth receive her King;Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,And heav’n and nature sing,And heav’n and nature sing,And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.”

Just as a place was made for baby Jesus to be born so many years ago, a place was made for Him in the checkout lanes. Smiles erupted across the stone-cold faces of the Grinches. Peace swept across the store, carving a swath through the crowd of shoppers and banishing loneliness and the Grinch from the checkout lanes.

As you weave your way in and out of the stores this Christmas season, remember the Reason for the Season…it’s the celebration of Jesus’ birth! 

May the blessings of the manger find a place in your heart. 

(Image by Google Images)