Without God - Part 27: What's in a Name?

 

In his exploration of what it would be like to live a life without God, King Solomon continues to examine various aspects of those things that motivate human beings. Notice what he writes in today’s passage, found in Ecclesiastes 7:1-6:

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.

Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

At the end of each of Solomon’s examinations, he concludes that death is inevitable. He also asserts that the death of a life that has been lived without God is far preferable to continuing to live a life without God. Nothing can take the place of God in the life of a human being.

These startling assertions of Solomon should create within us a sense of joy that we are, in fact, living our lives with God, instead of living them without Him. God has chosen us to belong to Himself. He has sent His Holy Spirit to irresistibly draw us into the fullness of His mercy, grace, and love.

We no longer can imagine what it would be like to live our lives without God. But, with help from Solomon’s great wisdom, we can consider what it must be like for the people around us who are living their lives without God. Thus, Solomon’s writings in the Book of Ecclesiastes becomes a critical part of the revelation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the enabler of our relationship with God. He is the One who has redeemed us by the shedding of His precious blood. He is also the One who has called us to reach out and gently share with others the good news of God’s desire to fellowship with the humans He has created. But first, these humans must be cleansed from their sin in order to face the holiness of God.

As the new day stretches before us, we should remain aware of those times that God brings someone across the pathway of our lives whom He will nudge us to share His words of life. As the gospel songwriter Philip P. Bless wrote back in 1874:

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life.
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life,
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

 

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