12/31/2023
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
The author of Ecclesiastes spent a lot of time exploring the meaning of life. This “Teacher,” a king of Israel in Jerusalem (traditionally identified as King Solomon), tried it all in his quest for meaning—power and prestige, wealth and women. And, yet, still, he observed that generations come and generations go, but it all seems to be an endless cycle…
We work hard, but we eventually die.
We acquire things, but we eventually die.
We have families, but eventually we die.
Whether we spend our lives doing good or evil, we all eventually die.
But he goes on to say:
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
When you gaze up at a star-filled sky, hold a newborn baby in your arms, or hike through a field of wildflowers, you are meant to be reminded of something greater—your Creator.
When you study what’s been recorded in human history or even process your own life, you get glimpses of the bigger picture—but you can still only see so much.
It’s not your job to know everything, but it is your job to trust God.
At the very end of the book, the Teacher shares his final thoughts: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
When you look back on this year, what was beautiful? Even if it was challenging or excruciating, what did God teach you through it?
Regardless of the past or what the future holds, you can trust that God is working—from beginning to end.
