Written by Dan
It has been my observation that death is the great equalizer, no one can outrun death, no one can avoid death, we all will pass through the portal. Some to life everlasting and others to an everlasting bad day. But what about the things we accumulate? What happens? Do those things matter? Solomon pondered on these things and formulated the essential statement on birth and death in a world with little grace.
Ecclesiastes 5:15-17 says — Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction, and anger. (NIV)
Psalms tell us — Do not be overwhelmed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live, they count themselves blessed—and people praise them when they prosper—they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life (Psalm 49:16-19).
It is clear we do not accumulate anything in this world that stays with us after death. What is the impact of this? First, we see the fleeting nature of wealth, second, we are schooled by Solomon on the notion that our wealth is nothing, valueless when compared to the immensity and grandeur of the one true living God. We bring nothing because we have nothing material that is of value to God. He desires our heart, which is what we bring with us into the next world. We have nothing we have collected that is of any value to God. He looks for the heart, not the objects.
In Psalms we read — For you, Oh Lord, are my hope, my trust … from my Youth. Upon you I have learned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you (Psalm 71:5-6).
When we were born, we arrived with nothing. Then, in death we leave with nothing (implied in 1 Timothy 6:7). The dust that formed us, envelops us in death. For we were born in sin, and if we do not find grace in our life and turn towards the one true living God to receive the ransom, then we die in sin. We are unsanctified. Our sorrow during life is magnified 1 million-fold in death without Jesus.
Our departure without the benefit of Grace is not God’s plan, it is Lucifers plan. He will try to twist and misalign the precepts squeezing all the power from the saving message. This is a difficult thing to wrap our mind around, yet we know he loses his campaign of destruction if we yield to Jesus. The darker truth is — he wants to distract us with wealth, causing our heart to be glued and focused on this world, striving to avoid death so that we may wrap our arms about the great wealth we accumulate and cling to rather than embracing and valuing the eternal gift given to each of us through the shed blood of Jesus.
In Hosea 12:1 we learn about Ephraim, a tribe of Israel trying to feed from the wind. How can that be? I think we quickly learn that feeding from the wind leaves us with an empty tummy. Wind cannot provide us with strength or stamina. What was Hosea the prophet talking about? I think the message is a metaphor that states pursuing wealth to bring happiness leaves us empty. If we pursue wealth for selfish reasons, we are fools. If we do manage to accumulate wealth, we will not find it easy to maintain. I think it is wise to consume the Word of God, leave wind consumption for the godless.
I choose Jesus.
Shalom Talk 