In the Old Testament there is a relatively a short book called Ecclesiastes and probably read very little. There are some mysteries about this book as to who wrote it. We don’t exactly know, although tradition tells us the writer was King Solomon, the son of David. This book has one of the deepest insights into human life. The best-known section of the book reflects on the variety of life and how different emotions and events occur throughout our lives, over which we have little or no control.
1) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven. 2) A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot 3) A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance; 4) A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.
When there is a death of a loved one, we may become resentful when someone asks “how are you doing?” Most of the time, it’s a question we can’t begin to answer. But we become just as resentful when others fail to ask. They think we may want to be left with our thoughts. Grief is, in one way, a costly consequence of love. “When the risk of love is lost, the price for that loss is grief.” With love there is always hope. The greatest love is the love of God for us—a love that never diminishes and never dies, because it is the love of the creator for his created children. In John’s gospel 14th chapter, we see the hope that can grow out of love.
We hear Jesus explaining to his disciples, even though they don’t yet understand, that he must go away from them—that he must die, so that His work can be finished and a place can be prepared for them in Heaven. After hearing Jesus explained He was going away and that they know the way, Thomas spoke and said he didn’t know the way. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This scripture, ‘John 14th chapter,’ is our hope for the future. God’s desire is to be deeply involved in each one of our lives, to show His love for us and to transform us, turning our sorrow into joy and our mourning into dancing. The only way we can avoid the pain of grief is by also avoiding the joy of love and be totally detached from the ability to experience happiness. “God have mercy please!”
My weekly prayer is that the reader of this commentary becomes spiritually inspired of God. Become a prayer partner with Expressions of Faith, Contact EOF at P.O. Box 330127, Nashville, Tenn. 37203; or e-mail <w310watson@aol.com>. God Bless!
