Death Assisting Life

    ¹A ^(A)good name is better than a good ointment,
         And the ^(B)day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.
    ²It is better to go to a house of mourning
         Than to go to a house of feasting,
         Because that is the ^(C)end of every man,
         And the living ^(D)takes it to heart.
    ^3(E)Sorrow is better than laughter,
         For ^(F)when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
    ⁴The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
         While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.


Ecclesiastes 7:1-4


What is Solomon trying to say in the book of Ecclesiastes, is a place of mourning really a better place to be?  With all that sadness, isn't it better to be in a place of rejoicing and celebration?  Solomon wasn't trying to say that sadness is better than joyfulness; he was stressing the point of understanding eternal joyfulness instead of temporary happiness.  It's better to go to a house of morning because nothing makes us focus on life (eternal or temporal) than death.  It is during this grieving process where we ask the greater, more important questions which lead to transformations of heart.  When we're partying, having a good time, we get caught up in the moment and fail to acknowledge eternity because our minds are distracted.  We become fools and live for the temporary.


I see this to be so true.  It's during our valleys where we realize what kind of faith we have; when we're put to the test by fire in the furnace.  How do I fare?  Not as good as I know God wants me to be but better than I've approached things in the past.  Going through the miscarriage taught me a lot of how I respond in the midst of crisis.  Turning down this job opportunity was another example of leaning on God's provisions.  Serving in Frontlines has also taken me to another level of being tried by fire.  So many opportunities to live correctly by the realization of death upon us.  How can I not grow in faith?


Father God, thank You for blessing me with a beautiful, God-fearing wife.  Thank You for carefully placing my trials along with Your victories and for carrying me through each and every step.  Help me Lord God in this continued season of refining and pruning.. all I can say is Yes, Lord!  In the most precious name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!