Ecclesiastes part 2
Time Marches On
Tracy Lawrence (1996) had a #1 hit with “Time Marches On.” It’s a relatively simple song, but with sobering lyrics. He reflects on the passage of time for an unnamed family. The family structure disintegrates with each verse, but in between each verse, he reminds us, “And time marches on.” One particular verse speaks to the mood of today’s message:
The South moves North, the North moves South
A star is born, a star burns out
The only thing that stays the same is
Everything changes, everything changes
- Tracy Lawrence (1996)
If country music doesn’t appeal to you, Pink Floyd had a similar sentiment in 1973 with “Time.” The climatic verse comes with:
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say
- Pink Floyd (1973)
Within Ecclesiastes we find several themes which reoccur pointing us toward its lesson in wisdom. The first one we are looking at today just happens to be the name of Lawrence’s song: Time Marches On.
The clock of time continues to tick away regardless how we spend our time. Carl Sandburg, the famous poet of the 20th century, said, “Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent.” The Preacher of Ecclesiastes spent his time examining life under the sun and realized that no matter the hard work or the laziness, the righteousness or wickedness, the building up or the tearing down, life continues on.
As we look at a few passages from Ecclesiastes, we are reminded that our time on this earth is fleeting. We must make the best of it while we can.
Make the best use of your time while you can, because it does not last.
Everything Has a Time | Ecc 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Now, much more than just a song by The Byrds, this passage reminds us everything has a time and serves a purpose. One commentator noted the upbeat attitude of The Byrds does not quite capture the tone of the passage. He compared it more to a Hootie and The Blowfish song, but regardless how you interpret the tone, the truth is the same.
Everything has a time, and everything will occur in its time.
You have been born, and there will come a day when you die; there is a time to plant and to harvest, and etc. We cannot control the timing of events, we can only respond to the events as they occur.
So, how can a Christian respond to this truth? Do we lament like the Preacher? Do we resign to the pagan mentality of “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”?
No, because Jesus has taught us a better way! Paul writes,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15
We recognize these days for what they are. They are “evil days” in which the last vestiges of this corrupted world are falling away. Paul says to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” So what is His will? Look at 2 Peter 3:8-10
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
2 Peter 3:8-10
The world will continue on as it has been. The cycle of plant and harvest, birth and death, building and tearing down, war and peace, will continue until the End. We do not know the day or hour, but one day that cycle will end, and the heavens will pass away, and all the earth will be exposed. And though sometimes we wonder what is taking God so long, Peter reminds us the Lord is patient, not slow. He wishes for all to come to repentance and salvation.
So, as Christians who know what is to come of this world, how do we spend our days? We use the various times of life to share Christ reminding the world around us that its time will one day be over.
The work of God reoccurs in Ecclesiastes. Turn back with me to chapter 7.
God Works in Time | Ecc 7:8-10
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
There are a few things happening in this short passage, but the big lesson is this:
God works throughout the ups and downs of life.
First, the Preacher says the end of a thing is better than its beginning. Now, this seems quite counter-intuitive to us, but that is because endings make us sad. We want to look back at the joy of something in its prime, rather than realize that everything serves a purpose, and once that purpose is accomplished, it is in its proper place.
Think of your dinner table. I know, supper is waiting for you, but bear with me a moment. The beginning of a meal takes place in the kitchen where it is prepared. Then, the meal is revealed, and we see all the fixings, sides, and the glorious meat! It is the part of the meal we rejoice, because our hunger is about to be satisfied. But…if we stay at this moment, never putting the meal on our plates, what happens? Most of us would get really cranky! But isn’t this the best part of the meal—when the food is hot, ready, and fills the air with its wonderful scent? And yet, if we never move past this moment in time, we never eat. And if we never eat, we will remain always wanting something to fill us. No, the meal serves to fill our bellies, and it’s only at the end of the meal, when that food is in our bellies that it has served its purpose.
Looking back at chapter 3, we see that everything has its place and time. Here, in chapter 7, we see that even when that time is over, it’s OK. In fact, it’s better, because the thing has served its purpose.
So, it is better to be “patient in spirit” than “proud in spirit.” Be patient understanding everything has a time, purpose, and ending. Do not be proud believing that you have that one thing that will last forever. In fact, the next verse is a warning of what will happen if you are. The proud in spirit become angry and foolish. They say things like, “Why were the former days better than these?” This question does not come from wisdom.
Nostalgia is an interesting phenomenon in the last few decades. Did you know that for most of human civilization, nostalgia was considered a foolish attitude? Roman soldiers were castigated if they longed to go home. No song like “Letters from Home” would have become a hit for the longest time. In the 17th century, it was studied like a disease. It was a mental illness until the 19th century when it was treated as a symptom of a form of depression. It wasn’t until the 20th century that it became a marketing tool gaining acceptance as just another attitude. Now, whole business enterprises exist based on people’s nostalgia for childhood or by-gone days.
But God does not call us to look back, He calls us to look forward!
Each person, event, or thing God places in our life serves a purpose…even the heartaches.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
And also,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
C. S. Lewis examined the idea of everything serving its purpose in his book Perelandra. There is an exchange between the two main characters that unfortunately we do not have time to examine fully. But, at the end of their discussion, the female protagonist states if someone clings to a good for too long, it will no longer be a good. Part of the joy of a good gift is that it leaves when the time comes.
For Paul and James, they remind us that even the trials of this life work for our good. For the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, he reminds us that the good has a time, but it too must pass. Whether good or bad, the occurrences of our lives have a time, and a good purpose. But, if we cling too long, to either the good or the bad, they will turn us bitter.
God is at work in our lives. He uses both good and bad to fulfill His purpose—his perfect purpose. It is not our place to hold on to the past. In fact, it is better to let it go. Learn from it, but look forward to the future.
As Paul also says,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
Or, to quote one more singer, “Just hold on loosely. But don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, You’re gonna lose control.”
God calls us to look forward, not backward.
Time marches on—whether we like it or not. As it marches, we must be careful to not fall into the trap of bitterness, lamenting a past we cannot change, or falling into the trap of nostalgia, longing for a past that is gone. Instead, press on toward the goal of the upward call of Jesus Christ. Turn away from the former things, and turn toward Christ Jesus who gives new and eternal life.
Now, church, as we reflect on our passage and its call to redeem the time that we have, consider how we can best redeem the time pressing on toward the goal of salvation. Should we sit and wait? Do we lament for former days, living in nostalgia for days that, honestly, never really existed? Do we let current affairs turn us bitter? NO! We redeem this evil time by sharing Christ, showing love, and joining the mission God has given us.
The best use of time for God’s people is time spent fulfilling our mission Christ has given us.
Who do you know needs to hear the Good News that Jesus has come to bring us new life? Tell them this week. Invite them to church. Invite them to a small group or dinner or whatever it takes to tell them about Jesus. Time is marching on, and one day, our time is going to run out.