Today is the Day of God’s Permission to Live Life
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in the grave, to which you are going.
It would seem that there is something special to which we should pay attention concerning work in this life. The question becomes: Is there work in the next life? Work is defined in many different ways, but mainly: exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; to labor; to toil; (as defined at dictionary.com)
Do angels and the saints in Heaven (or, conversely, those in Hell) exert or give effort to produce or accomplish anything? Yes, but in a different sense than what is accomplished here on earth.
Solomon clearly sees the a different and special value in what we do this side of eternity. The book of Ecclesiastes is a group of musings on what we can and do accomplish while we are in the land of the living. There are things that are meaningless and there are pursuits that are meant to bring us pleasure as we fulfill the lives given to us by God. In our passage here, Solomon is reflecting on the joy of having the opportunity to accomplish something great according to our thoughts and desires. In the next life, the plans we do are laid out externally of ourselves; in this life, we have the power to choose how and what we accomplish. Solomon sees this opportunity as something exciting and worthy of doing with all our might, because things will be different when we are called to our eternal rest.
Why get excited and thoughtful as to what we can accomplish in this world?
(1) You have permission to try; you don’t know what will succeed unless you try
(2) You have permission to accomplish that bucket list now; you don’t know when your life will end
(3) You have permission to prosper and make a name for yourself; death has a habit of making you obsolete
(4) You have permission to learn and grow according to your wishes; your intellect and wisdom are needed now
As Christians, this should make us bold. We are freed by grace to make this world better, and may that always be our guide in our pursuits. Jesus says in John 9:4: We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. We are empowered with the boldness of God’s blessings and vigilant in making sure that our pursuits are mixed with a testimony to Kingdom grace. There are those, enslaved by the will of this world, who need the assurance Christ has given us by the statute of freedom, that we are His, and that greatness can flow decidedly because of our liberation.
So, be excited as to the permission that God has given to us all to dream big and treasure our existence. There is a time when this life will pass away, but until then, enjoy what precious moments define the juncture of your present and your future. Amen.
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