"HISTORY MERELY REPEATS ITSELF. It has all been done before. NOTHING UNDER THE SUN IS TRULY NEW."
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT)
• Based on what Solomon said, the author of the Bible passage used as our text; Nothing under the sun, in the world, is truly New (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
- Do not be carried away with the New things, things in vogue, because they are not truly New.
- Jesus Christ in one of His parables likened some people to the seed sown among the thorns (Mark 4:3-9,14-20). THOSE who heard the Word of God and did not allow it to take root downward in them, but such allowed the cares of life and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the Word of God planted in them (Mark 4:18,19).
READ: 1 Timothy 6:9,10,17 - Riches have deceit, because humans are insatiable. If you are pursuing the things of the world, that might be at the detriment of your soul and your place in God's Kingdom, you may later regret (Matthew 6:33; 16:36).
- King Solomon was stating a fact in the passage of the Bible used as the text, and he was talking out of his experience. At the beginning of his life, he wanted Fulfilment, and thought he could get that by exploring a number of things (Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:1-11).
- When he did, he was able to get a number of things he desired, but those things did not give him the fulfilment or satisfaction he was desirous of:
10 ANYTHING I WANTED, I WOULD TAKE. I DENIED MYSELF NO PLEASURE. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labours. 11 BUT AS I LOOKED AT EVERYTHING I HAD WORKED SO HARD TO ACCOMPLISH, IT WAS ALL SO MEANINGLESS—LIKE CHASING THE WIND. THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY WORTHWHILE ANYWHERE" (Ecclesiastes 2:10,11 NLT).
READ: Ecclesiastes 1:16
• The man, Solomon, talking in the above passage of the Bible had tasted good things of life. He had riches, honour, greatness, and what have you; but at the end, he said all is meaningless.
- About the close or the end of his life, he began to talk about vanities (Ecclesiastes 1:2,14; 2:19,21,26; 3:19; 6:2).
- He realizes that life is meaningless without one's Maker. In other words, without God in your life, or without a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, life is meaningless:
1 REMEMBER NOW YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH, BEFORE THE DIFFICULT DAYS COME, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them" 6 REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR BEFORE THE SILVER CORD IS LOOSED, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 13 LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR THIS IS MAN'S ALL. 14 FOR GOD WILL BRING EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, INCLUDING EVERY SECRET THING, WHETHER GOOD OR EVIL (Ecclesiastes 12:1,6,13,14 NKJV). - The man talking here had tasted life, seen good things of life, and with all his achievements or attainments, he discovered or realized, without God in one's life, everything is meaningless.
- Relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ makes life meaningful. True fulfilment is found in God through salvation in Christ Jesus (John 15:5).
• Pursue Godliness and Righteousness.
- All which some people are pursuing, including some believers, are the things of the world, which are in vogue, currently reigning or trending in the world—they wanted to be part of what is going on (Colossians 3:1,2).
- Many failed to serve God or be committed in their relationships with Him, because of the current trends in the world: "BUT SHE [he] WHO LIVES IN PLEASURE IS DEAD WHILE SHE [he] LIVES" (1 Timothy 5:6 NKJV).
READ: 1 John 2:15-17 - Whatever you are pursuing in life that makes you lose your relationship or fellowshipping with God, and your place in God's Kingdom on Earth, is meaningless—vanity.
- Nothing you achieved, or the position you attained, gives Joy and satisfaction, without God in your life (Philippians 3:7,8).
- If God is not involved in whatever you are pursuing, your goal, as a believer in Christ Jesus; It is irrelevant. Whatever God is involved in, only such gives satisfaction and joy and Fulfilment.
• Worldly attainments cannot not give you Joy and Fulfilment:
"HE WHO LOVES MONEY WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH MONEY, NOR HE WHO LOVES ABUNDANCE WITH ITS GAIN. THIS TOO IS VANITY (emptiness)" (Ecclesiastes 5:10 Amps).
- After you might have gotten whatever you are pursuing, you would realize or discover that you are yet satisfied.
- Nothing gives Joy, satisfaction, and Fulfilment, outside God: "I [King Solomon] THOUGHT ABOUT ALL MY HARD WORK, AND I FELT DEPRESSED" (Ecclesiastes 2:20 Contemporary English Version).
"SO I GAVE UP IN DESPAIR, QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF ALL MY HARD WORK IN THIS WORLD" (Ecclesiastes 2:20 NLT).
- The truth is, the answer to satisfaction and fulfilment is found in God through Christ Jesus, and in Him only.
- The quest of Solomon was, he wanted to find Joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment in life, through the hard work, accumulation of wealth, and pleasures.
- He eventually discovered or realized after he got all he was pursuing, that, having those things could not give him Joy, satisfaction, and the fulfilment he was looking for. Life is vanity, meaningless, without God:
4 I ALSO TRIED TO FIND MEANING BY BUILDING HUGE HOMES FOR MYSELF AND BY PLANTING BEAUTIFUL VINEYARDS. 5 I MADE GARDENS AND PARKS, FILLING THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF FRUIT TREES. 11 BUT AS I LOOKED AT EVERYTHING I HAD WORKED SO HARD TO ACCOMPLISH, IT WAS ALL SO MEANINGLESS—LIKE CHASING THE WIND. THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY WORTHWHILE ANYWHERE" (Ecclesiastes 2:4,5,11 NLT).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- If you are having any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- The hold is completely broken and it will never rise again in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!