Everything Has a Season
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Key Verse: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Selected Scripture: |
DURING THE TIME OF HIS reign over Israel, Solomon became very rich, and he surrounded himself with much glory and pomp. God had blessed him with great wisdom, yet he was often most unwise in his personal life. He wrote much in the book of Ecclesiastes. During his latter years Solomon realized the folly of his ways, so he sought to admonish others to not follow his foolish example. The book is a reminder that despite riches, pleasure, honor and glory, life is vain without God.
In addition to this wise counsel, the book also furnishes valuable information concerning the nature of man and the condition of death. The Scriptures record that God declared to father Adam that he would be punished with death if he disobeyed him, and partook of the forbidden fruit. But Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Gen. 3:4) This was the origin of the death penalty upon the human family, and the theory that there is no death.
Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order, but unprofitable when they are out of time and place. People want to believe that there is a time for everything that occurs in life. But how does God’s time schedule relate to our lives? Solomon said, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”—Eccles. 3:1-8
Continuing, Solomon further said, “I know that, whatÂsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” (vss. 3:14,15) Again he writes, “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”—vs.17
Death is the common enemy of all flesh. Solomon explains, “That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”—vss. 19-21
Man has ‘no preeminence’ over the animal creation. Solomon has wisely addressed the fact that there is a season for all things, including the destiny of all mankind who share the ultimate condition of death. Our Lord Jesus paid the price for sin, and will give all mankind an opportunity to receive life again during his glorious kingdom.