YOU CAN LIVE AN EXCITING LIFE WITH MEANING AND PURPOSE!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever felt that life is basically just repetition of the same
things over and over, and it causes you to feel you are in a rut
(which is a grave with both ends ‘kicked out’)?
It can create a dismal view of the future, can’t it?

If you have felt this way, you are not alone.
Kind Solomon felt the same way and he is known as the wisest man in history.
Look at what the scriptures say about his wisdom:
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of
understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s
wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and
greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else,
including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda,
the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.
(1 Kings 4:29-31)

Not only did God give him a high level of wisdom,
but he also gave him ‘great insight’.
This means that Solomon had the ability to evaluate the current,
but could also anticipate the future, including how life is impacted
by the things it encounters and its environment.

When someone with his credentials paints a gloomy picture for living, it means
that we could all experience the same feelings at times in our own lives.
Look at how he describes life as repetitious and boring:
What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north;
round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 1:3-9)

It may seem like life is a hopeless situation, but it is not!
After Solomon tried everything he could think of to satisfy his cravings
(and he had the wealth to do them), the wisest man concluded that the solution
is found in developing a healthy relationship with the God of the universe.
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. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The New Testament also instructs us to develop a relationship with God.
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life
to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:2-3)

In order to have this relationship with God, we need to believe in,
and have a daily fellowship, with His Son, Jesus.
He is the One who went to the cross for us and made it possible
for us to be part of God’s family, so that we could sit at the table of
plenty with Him, whenever we have concluded our earthly journey.

The assurance of an eternal life changes our outlook on life and living.
It is a choice we all can make, and we need to choose wisely.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he
has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that
everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40)

But Jesus did even more – He made it possible for us to enjoy
life on earth without feeling that it is a boring, repetitious rut.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

ACTION:
Do you have the bleak feelings mentioned above?
Does it sometimes feel that you are on a treadmill that’s going nowhere?
Do you struggle with finding a goal or purpose in life?

Rather than continuing in a seemingly endless rut,
follow the advice of the scriptures, and learn from the wisest man.
Spend more time reading the Bible and meeting with other believers
for worship so you can learn more about God’s messages to His people.
In addition, when we commit to doing what He has called us to do,
our lives will become even more vibrant and exciting!

We cannot have a close relationship with Him
if we continue doing things He doesn’t like.
What things? The things that violate what God expects of those who belong
to Him, including the things we have justified in our minds as being okay,
but we know in our hearts that they are outside His Will.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises in a world that can seem
bent on stealing my joy and happiness. Thank You for sending Jesus
to provide me the opportunity to create a relationship with You and with
Him, and to experience a life of joy that has been eluding me. Help me to
spend more time reading Your Word so that I can find even more valuable
information I need for increasing my fellowship with You, and enjoying
life in a new way!”

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