Ecclesiastes 1.
Everything is meaningless, Solomon concludes. Time just keeps marching on. There is nothing new, but everything is cyclical. What goes around, comes around. Life is a waste of time. No one will remember you when you're gone. Who cares?
Solomon was a great king over Israel. He devoted himself to wisdom and knowledge. He exposed himself to every experience known to man. Then, he branched off into madness and folly to see where that path led. He found emptiness and dissatisfaction. He concluded it was a chasing after the wind.
He was referring to worldly wisdom and knowledge. Knowing and experiencing the world, with its focus on the flesh, is a dead-end road. Much sorrow and grief come with the package deal. But a life clothed with Christ, including Godly wisdom and knowledge, is characterized by proven fruit displayed and true satisfaction for this life and the next.
I really liked that statement, "what is twisted cannot be straightened". That's deep. I believe it could be referring to individuals, mankind, or situations and conditions. It begs us to remember that what is impossible with man is possible with God. It reminds me that salvation and sanctification are true miracles of grace. Jesus said, "apart from Me, you can do nothing". So true. We cannot do anything on our own. I also like to couple that verse with "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Those two verses help keep things in perspective an encourage faith. Everyone knows someone who is impossibly twisted, beyond human influence. I'm reminded of a brilliant scene in the Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan the Lion (Christ) breathes on this gnarly, twisted, old tree. It straightens out, pretty as you please. That's what He has done for us. That's what some other folks are needing. I'm praying this very thing for my very own son, right now. Oh, what a story it will be, when the Lord breathes on him to straighten out what has been twisted since his birth. Come, Lord Jesus. We can't change people. Only the Creator of hearts can affect and change hearts. We need that kind of miracle today for whatever situations or people we are dealing with.
Please, move, Lord, in these situations. May we trust You with them and leave them in Your hands. Let us respond in grace, with the patience of God. Help us truly want to be about living for Your glory and not our own. Allow Your Holy Spirit to influence what is in our minds and what comes out of our mouths. Forgive our unbelief, negativity, resentment, and bitterness. Restore positivity, faith, and trust. Give us Your eyes and vision and empower us to do Your will while we still have this very brief time and few opportunities.
