Everything has context, but time may be more susceptible to that than anything. Time in an infant’s world extends about five seconds, for a college student maybe a five-year outlook, for the middle-aged it’s captured in decades and the most elderly among us think of it generationally. States on the east coast treat the western U.S. like they’re late to the party when, in reality, all of America is almost 900 years younger than Ethiopia. Time really is a matter of perspective.
I was struck by this as I was standing in front of giant trees that were estimated to be over 3,000 years old. If accurate, these were saplings around the time King David took the throne! It brought to mind Ecclesiastes 1:2-4:
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
The trees caused me to relate entirely to the author’s lament. Generations come and go, but the trees seem to last forever. Ecclesiastes details the frustrations and inequities of life that can be very discouraging. Perhaps you have said to yourself, “I am surrounded by a world that is unjust, unfair and downright unkind. What can I possibly do about it?”
The good, no great news is that the author answers this question. Ecclesiastes puts into words what is happening around us or to us from OUR perspective, but that should not be the Christian’s ongoing point of view. We must have a godly outlook which takes us out of the center and puts Him in it! Ecclesiastes instructs us how to do that, even when everything appears to be falling apart. We should fear God and white-knuckle His commands.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 8:12)
I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. (Ecclesiastes 3:17)
The author recaps the concepts at the close of the book with the following verses:
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)
It is worthy of note that the author never backs off the observations about the seemingly unfair frustrations of life. They are real, but we must never view ourselves as victims. We are participants in God’s sovereign, perfect and redemptive plan. The part we play is important because it is the one that He gave to us at this specific time! In this way we can look at ancient trees and not despair. On the contrary, we can be thankful that God has given them a purpose, but even better, it is His children whom He loves. When you’re frustrated and struggle to know what to do about it all, run back to the foundational principles of fearing God and keeping His commandments. It is our whole duty.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!