Greetings,
Solomon imparts a great deal of wisdom in regard to human physical life. Although mankind was created by God and formed in His image, the decision by Adam and Eve to reject life with access to the Holy Spirit left man to live life his own way – without God. The main result of this life, according to Solomon, is vanity – frustration, futility and emptiness. No matter how successfully the physical life is lived, at the end there is nothing – no meaning and no purpose. The world generally is wandering in a depressing daze of hurt, anger and abuse it cannot understand.
Yet for those God has called and whose eyes are opened to see spiritually, human life takes on a whole new dimension. It becomes a life filled with purpose when man “fears God and keeps His commandments.” The transformation of a human life when it is lived on this spiritual level is enormous. Knowing man has the potential to be a part of God’s eternal spiritual family is a huge blessing that imparts purpose. How do you put a value on knowing that those called now are, “predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will”? (Ephesians 1:5).
We have amongst us, living examples of this transformation. At this moment there are a number of members who have lived the majority of their lives with God’s Spirit as their guiding light – lives filled with meaning gleaned from God’s Word and reinforced by the fruits of the Spirit. Now they face the end of their physical lives – not through the natural process of ageing – but due to disease and illness.
To spend time with these members is mind focusing. The issues of life we have to contend with on a daily basis are put into a clear perspective. When someone who knows he or she has only weeks to live can talk about the peace that they have through a relationship with the Father and the hope of the resurrection, the emptiness of life vanishes. The encourager becomes the encouraged!
They are living witnesses to the conclusions Solomon drew from his life’s experiences. “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 … remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed …” (Ecclesiastes 12:1,6). To remember is to hear and do the whole conclusion to the matter, “Fear God and keep His commandments” (verse 13).
We need to pray for these members and express our thankfulness for their faithfulness and dedication to God’s way of life (see the prayer updates – not all are currently listed). They are living witnesses of the true meaning and purpose of life.
On another matter, you may have noticed that no new Bible study is planned for this week. We decided to try out a bi-weekly format for Bible Studies. Some members (of the non-retired type) are finding it difficult to keep up with the flow of new material and it also takes a little pressure off those preparing and presenting the studies. The studies this month will be on the 13th and 27th. It would be good to review some of the library of material filed on the website.
In trying to take in all the events of this past week – both within the church and in our world around us, we need to appreciate that these are just the beginning of sorrows. If nothing else, it reinforces the need for us to be working on ourselves to be close to our Father in order to be prepared for what God has foretold is coming. The apostle Peter’s admonition is for us. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:7-8).
The service this Sabbath will originate from Denver, Colorado.
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
