Ecclesiastes 3:11 -- Revisited

"He has made everything appropriate in its time.  he has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."  
(Ecc 3:11)

If eternity is "in our hearts" why is it that for so many it lays yet undiscovered--to the extent that many would scoff at the idea and say we are here today...and then there is nothing more?

Many search from beginning to end to fulfill this longing--or perhaps they have simply given up the search and decided the longing must be false for they did not discover what they sought.  Or perhaps they have found something...it seems to fill to an extent...and yet...there is still something more they can't quite put a finger on.

So is the search a hopeless one?  It is, IF, we do not look to what is "appropriate in its time".  For "in time" is really the only place a human being can search--and therefore if eternity is to be found it must somehow be found within the constraints of time itself!  But even such a thought is a bit ridiculous--how can something outside of time, timeless and without bounds become known to us who are bound by space and time?  Is it not a hopeless search...one surely destined to leave us in despair?  Again, if the search is left to us the answer is yes--for "man will not find out the work which God had done from beginning even to the end".  Many have tried and are trying to find the value of life through temporary--though often seemingly deep and spiritual things--but they are yet still just the efforts of a temporary being bound by time and space, unable to break into the eternity that their heart so desperately longs for.

The only way for the longing of our heart to be fulfilled is if that which is Eternal not only speaks into time and space--but actually enters into time and space to bring Eternal Life to us who's hearts long for it.  This is exactly the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1 tells us that it was the ETERNAL plan of God to save us through Jesus, but that he was REVEALED IN TIME.  John the disciple of Jesus, tells us that God took on flesh and made His dwelling among us--so that through His flesh we might be saved--brought into eternity with Him--thus, the longing of our hearts fulfilled.

We must see "what is appropriate in its time" -- Jesus revealed to us as the way of Eternal Life.  This is the only way.  This is an unpopular claim, and so many have searched and continue to search for another way; but it is not to be found--only Jesus has conquered for us the death that through sin binds us to a life separated from the Eternal One--our Father in Heaven.  The searching of mankind apart from Christ is a hopeless one that will never lead to the Life that our heart so desperately longs for.

My prayer for any who read these words is that your searching would end with Christ, and that through Him you would know Life Eternal.