Week #5 of Ecclesiastes is in the books, and if you missed the latest message, you can check that out here — A TIME FOR THIS… A TIME FOR THAT...
As I mentioned this past Sunday, one of the most profound statements in all of Ecclesiastes appears right in the middle of chapter three:
"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart..."
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
That one phrase has captivated people for nearly 3,000 years:
"He has planted eternity in the human heart."
Let's start with the obvious question…
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SOLOMON TALKING ABOUT?
On the surface, King Solomon is saying that human beings were made for more than what this world can offer. In other words, deep within us is a longing that NOTHING "under the sun" can fully satisfy.
My good friend C.S. Lewis... okay, we never actually met, but if we had, I think we would have been best friends. Sorry, I digress.
Mr. Lewis captured this idea beautifully when he wrote:
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
His point is simple, but PROFOUND.
When we look to the things of this world for ultimate meaning, fulfillment, identity, purpose, or joy… well, they eventually leave us wanting more. Not because those things are bad, but because they were never designed to satisfy the deepest longing of the human heart.
Point being… that longing points beyond the world "under the sun."
It points toward eternity.
But if we dig a little deeper into Ecclesiastes 3:11, we'll discover that Solomon isn't just explaining WHY we long for something more… he is also explaining WHY we react so strongly when things feel so wrong.
Think about it...
WHY do we get angry when injustice wins?
WHY does death feel so unnatural?
WHY do we ache when relationships fall apart?
WHY are we disturbed by violence, betrayal, disease, addiction, abuse, and suffering?
WHY do we find ourselves saying...
"This isn't right."
"This shouldn't be happening."
"Things should be different."
According to Solomon, those reactions are clues… they point to the reality that the DNA OF EDEN is still flowing through our veins.
For a brief moment, travel back to the opening chapters of Genesis and you'll discover what humanity was created for.
We were created by God, to be with God, enjoying His presence.
There was no death.
NO disease.
NO shame.
NO sin.
NO brokenness.
NO separation.
Humanity lived in perfect harmony with God… with one another… with creation itself.
That's Eden… that’s PARADISE.
That's what we were created for.
Which helps explain WHY we struggle so deeply with the world we currently live in.
Every time we encounter heartbreak, injustice, loss, suffering, or death, something inside of us cries out:
"This can't be how it's supposed to be."
And just so you know... it's NOT.
That frustration is evidence that God has planted eternity within us.
It's an echo of Eden.
It's the fingerprint of our Creator still pressed into our souls.
It's the reminder that we were made for so much more than our current experience.
Ok… back to Ecclesiastes.
Solomon doesn't point this out so that we become discouraged… quite the opposite.
He's helping us understand something fundamental about who we are.
The deepest LONGINGS of the human heart are not ultimately for…
MORE money.
MORE success.
MORE achievement.
MORE comfort.
MORE influence.
MORE possessions.
MORE experiences.
Deep down, our hearts LONG FOR GOD.
We LONG for His presence.
We LONG for His goodness.
We LONG for justice to prevail.
We LONG for broken things to be made whole.
We LONG for the day when every sad thing comes untrue… thank you Samwise Gamgee.
And just so you know… that LONGING is NOT something to suppress… it’s something to follow.
The next time you feel frustrated because things aren't the way they're supposed to be, don't simply sit in your frustration… BRING IT to the LORD.
ASK Him how He might use you to bring a glimpse of Eden into the very place that's causing you pain.
ASK Him how the hope of the Gospel might bring healing where there is brokenness.
ASK Him how His presence might be made known in the middle of your frustration.
And if you're talking with a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member who doesn't ‘YET’ know Jesus, and they begin expressing their frustration with all that is wrong in the world, gently, kindly and lovingly ASK…
"Where do you think that frustration comes from?"
As best you can, help them see that their frustration or disappointment has roots much deeper than the moment they're in... it's eternity speaking... it's the echo of Eden... it's God inviting them to lift their eyes above the sun.
