God's Glory Church

“And the sun rises and the sun sets.” — Ecclesiastes 1:5

One of Ernest Hemingway’s novels tells about friends who abuse alcohol. Having recently survived the First World War, they are literally and figuratively scarred and try to numb the pain with drunkenness and debauchery. They are all deeply unhappy.

The title of Hemingway’s book “And the Sun Rises” is taken directly from the pages of Ecclesiastes (Eccl. 1:5). There, King Solomon states: “Everything is vanity!” (v. 2), and then asks: “What is the benefit to a person in all his work” (v. 3). Solomon sees the sun rising and setting, the wind blowing here and there, rivers endlessly flowing into the sea, which never overflows (vv. 5-7). And, in the end, everything is forgotten (v. 11).

Ecclesiastes and Hemingway in their works show the harsh reality of the meaninglessness of life. However, Solomon weaves vivid hints of another spiritual world into his book. It has permanence and real hope. Ecclesiastes shows us not only ourselves, but also God. “Everything that God does remains forever,” he says (Eccl. 3:14). And this is our hope. Because God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to us.

Without the Lord, we are adrift in an endless, insatiable sea. However, through Jesus Christ we are reconciled to the Creator, finding meaning, value and purpose.

What is your time filled with? How can you change your priorities to follow Christ?

Heavenly Father, help me to find completeness in You.

Author: Tim Gustavson