eschatology, An Appointed Time for Everything (Ecc.3,12)

In light of eschatology, the following is a kind of an understatement, but the following does confirm that - there IS a time for everything!!!...

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-17)  There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. 15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

There are appointed times of judgment!  For unbelievers - there is the White Throne Judgment when all their sins will be judged.  For believers - there is the Bema Seat when all their good deeds done with pure motives will be judged and rewarded (because all their sins have been forgiven and remembered no more)...

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)  The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Today's takeaway:  "fearing God" is the act of believing in Him and His work on the cross, believing that we are sinners in need of saving and in need of forgiveness.  THEN God begins to work on our hearts which produces the "obedience."  The laws and commandments were given to us, not just to guide us toward healthier lives and relationships with God and each other, but to also show us God's standards - that we on our own can never live up to God's standards - that WE NEED GOD to get to God!!!

Isn't it curious how mankind will complain about Christianity because they THINK it's all about do's and don't's, but then make up their own religions which have huge lists of do's and don't's????  Just like the Pharisees did!  Then when Jesus came in order to bring mankind forgiveness and grace, the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Law - which were actually laws they had added to God's laws.  THEY thought that they could call the shots and determine what God should and shouldn't do.  But the Pharisees are not the only ones to become legalistic.

This year marks 500 years since the start of the Reformation when Martin Luther pinned his 94 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church and sent the original to Albert of Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz (October 31, 1517).   As a monk and professor of moral theology at the University of Wittenberg, Germany, Martin Luther got his hands on a Bible and started reading.  Wow!  God's forgiveness and grace is FREE???

Back then, it was rare for anyone to have a copy of the Bible to read for themselves.  Therefore the church-and-state could abuse their powers and manipulate the people with religion.  We need more money?  Let's tell the people that they have to buy these trinkets in order to get to heaven.  We need even more money?  Let's tell them that they can buy their loved ones out of... purgatory!  Sure, let's make up a last-chance-waiting-place between earth and hell.

Now several men, after hearing the Truth, began to challenge church-and-state, and led many people to the Lord.  There was a great movement, as well as great persecution for these "dissenters".  What is so sad, is that after many who had escaped and went off to other areas of the world to start new churches - became legalistic... After standing up for God's truths and suffering for them - they themselves soon began adding their own laws to God's words.  This should never be! 

So, if someone says that it is a sin to drive a red car - and you're not sure - ask them which Bible verses support that.  If a church says that they have the only correct interpretation of the Bible and you should just trust them on that - DO NOT!!!  Find a church that preaches the Truth, and a church who encourages you to search God's words for yourself in order to keep them accountable, and keep you grounded and steadfast!  As Christians, we have been set free from the law...

(Galatians 5:1)  It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

(Ephesians 4:11-16)  ...He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.