Where do you find meaning in your life? Does it come from kids? Awards or accomplishments? Perhaps money amassed or possessions? Perhaps you find meaning in the work that you do. One thing is certain, all of us need to find meaning to our lives otherwise we lose the purpose needed to wake up in the morning and live.
There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
Ecclesiastes 1:11 ESV
When we read something like this verse in Ecclesiastes, you panic to find something in your life that transcends the here and now and impact eternity. Unfortunately, when we examine our comings and goings, and daily exchanges with other people, we realize that we can’t even remember our yesterdays, how can we expect others to remember us after we’re gone and out of view? Moreover, reading something like this changes our perspective of how we should operate on a day to day basis, doesn’t it? It should. Today, I want to offer two changes in perspective that should guide our motivations in light of pointless human activity.
Work out your faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection
The only thing people really remember is the time when Jesus intervened on the course of human history, stepped into life as we know it, and radically changed everything. He changed how time would flow, how the world would be shaped through his unending love for people. It happened when he decided he would take up the cross and die on our behalf.
When we work our our faith in Jesus, we are actually remembering that the former way of our lives are no longer part of who we are. We are remembering the thing Jesus did, which was to die for our sin, our mistakes, our inequities. We are remembering that our hope in this life and in the next is not ourselves or the things that we accomplished, but the resurrection of Jesus, who after death was raised from the dead. He now lives with the Father in heaven, and that’s our hope.
Allow your faith to drive bold actions
Maybe you’re familiar with the saying, “do it in good faith.” Well, let me take that a little further than just simply trusting a deal will work out if you put your effort into it. When we allow our faith to drive bold actions, we are asking and doubling down on doing things that we would normally not do for the good of others in our lives, communities, and in the world. The “remembrance of things to come after…” only comes when somebody gives meaning to the things in the future that you will act on. The good news is that God remembers all things. He especially remembers his children of faith.
When we, in faith, boldly act in the name of God to witness his power, and will on earth, God will remember. He remembers and will judge us for it. That’s a good thing because it provides our lives, our future with meaning. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines because you’re afraid or because you haven’t an opportunity, allow faith to motivate you into a posture of bold actions that are bigger than your own life because of the faith you have in God to do his will through you.
Prayer: Father in heaven, former things, and future things have no meaning in our lives without you. Its when you intervened in our lives that we actually have meaning, purpose, and hope. We ask you remind us of your love for us and how you give us meaning, purpose, and hope that leaves a legacy that matters in our journey of faith. In Jesus name, Amen.
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