Devotion Corner

Ecclesiates 9:9 - Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

All of this life is but emptiness (vanity), for nothing that it can offer will last as death comes to both the wicked and the righteous. A person works hard all the days of their life, but for what ultimately? We came into this world with nothing and so we shall leave it. Our houses, our careers, our bank accounts, our cars, our furniture, our clothes will all be given over to another. So what do we have that isn’t empty of real value and worth?

To those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Redeemer, they have a treasure that is uniquely able to be possessed beyond the emptiness of the grave. Such redeemed hearts have life eternal gifted unto them the finished work of Christ Jesus at Calvary and thereby, they have peace with God. 

This eternal peace shared with the repentant heart from the pierced hands of the Prince of Peace, ministers to the reborn heart in Christ that we may live joyfully even knowing the swift and empty nature of this life. We can read these words given by Solomon and know them to be true, as we know by the ministry of the Holy Spirit to our hearts that all our days are given to us as our portion by the grace of God. Thereby we marvel at His goodness that He has gifted us these days not because we are due them or owed them in any way; but that they are a gift of God’s awesome grace and mercy unto sinners such as we.

So we can live joyfully, sharing love with our spouses, marvelling at the goodness of God that He has afforded us the wonders of such treasures even for but the swiftness that is mortal life. We can enter each day, delighting in the provision of God, working not in fear that we must destroy ourselves with heavy hearts seeking security of life, because we know that we cannot add a single minute to our lives by our own brilliance or righteousness.

The length of our days is known unto God alone, and He can call us away and unto judgement at any moment. To the believer in Christ, we have no fear of this hour, for there is no condemnation for those in Christ. But to the unrepentant of heart, let the fear of God fall upon you now! As the bird is snatched by the net when it is just about to take flight, so too may your time may come quicker than thought, and you will find yourself before Jesus Christ the Judge of all things, and be found wanting in your sins!

But again, to those sealed by the blood of Christ, we can live joyfully in these short, mortal days and enjoy the loves that have been gifted to us in this life, and not fear the day when that too shall come to a close. For we who are at peace with God through faith in His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, know that God’s grace and mercy did not end with a portion of life in this world, but that it extends to an eternal inheritance shared with us by the Son of God Himself. So to those who do not know this eternal peace, come in repentance of sin and placing of faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross. Then, just as He greeted death with peace knowing that sin had no claim on Him and thus could not hold Him, through Him you may know this same unshakeable and unsurpassable peace of God for yourselves. Amen.