Recently, Bruce Arnold sent me this poem and I greatly appreciate him doing it!!! Frankly, I had never considered writing this way and even more than that, the frailty of the written word, for even words written in stone eventually fade away.
However, these concepts and more are considered in the Bible. In fact, one of the wisest men that ever was, pondered great thoughts about what men do and the ultimate end of there efforts. To fully address this, I would have to present the whole book of Ecclesiastes, but I will have to be content with its opening and closing chapters.
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1 (World English Bible)
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (emp. added vs. 2) 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after. (emp. added vss. 9-11)
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (emp. added vs. 2) 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after. (emp. added vss. 9-11)
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 (World English Bible)
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;” 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened,
and the clouds return after the rain;
before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;” 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened,
and the clouds return after the rain;
and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
4 and the doors shall be shut in the street;
when the sound of the grinding is low,
and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights,
and terrors will be on the way;
and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail;
because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“All is vanity!”
9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. (emp. added, vss. 13-14)
I have wondered at times if the words in my blog (short for weblog) have any lasting impact on anyone. At times, it is difficult to adequately express the combination of thought, feeling and action into something coherent that genuinely relates to the world around me as seen through the scriptures. However feeble my efforts have been, they are the best that I can do- and that will have to suffice. Solomon would have said (and did in chapter 1)...
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
And his searching for wisdom didn't stop until the end of the book, where his reflections turned to God and how marvelous it would be to seek God in ones youth (before the weight of old age became unbearable).
His conclusion to wisdom and the cure for vanity- seek God and obey his commandments is not only humanly inspired, but heavenly as well.
God has said in another place-
Isaiah, Chapter 55 (World English Bible)
6 Seek Yahweh while he may be found.
Call on him while he is near. (emp. added vs. 6)
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky,
and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth,
and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so is my word that goes out of my mouth:
it will not return to me void,
but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
Call on him while he is near. (emp. added vs. 6)
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky,
and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth,
and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so is my word that goes out of my mouth:
it will not return to me void,
but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
The wise man will turn his thoughts to God's thoughts and seek to incorporate God's will into his life. God will change and perfect that wise one into the very best he can be. Believe this for it is true!!! That is why Isaiah 55:11 is in the Bible!!!
I think that somehow writing my blog will be easier from now on.
MAY GOD'S WILL BE DONE- FOR THAT AND THAT ALONE IS ETERNAL!!!