THE DAY OF THE LORD

The Book of Ecclesiastes contains practical wisdom for those who would follow God.  Chapter 3 reads, For every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

• A time to be born, and a time to die;
• a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 get, 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 of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJ2000)

Notice how the writer paired these many opposite concepts.  I believe that in these first years of the Day of the LORD that we will see many examples of both being played out simultaneously.  For example, we will see, and have seen in recent years, much death due to war and God’s judgment.  Yet, at the same time we continue to see the birth of beautiful new babies.  Again, we see God even now begin to pluck Babylon, the ruling world system, from the earth.  At the same time we see the Kingdom of God begin to be planted, or established.  Many will be killed as Babylon falls, yet as the Kingdom progresses many will be healed.  Babylon shall be broken down, but the Kingdom shall be built up.  Many will mourn and weep as they see their idols fall, but those who trust in the LORD will laugh and dance as they observe and participate in what God is doing.

Yes, this is a time when God will cast away the stones of Babel just as he destroyed the ancient temple of Judah stone by stone.  Yet, at the same time he will gather the living stones, his overcomers, that he has hewn in the wilderness and outside the camp.  These stones destroy the Beast that rules the world as God brings them together to form his new temple, the New Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes teaches us, then, that we will, or a time at least, see two things happening at once.  From the perspective of the world and the worldly minded these coming events will appear awful and evil.  Yet, as we view them according to God’s plan, we will see new life and cause for rejoicing.  So, continue to do those good works that your hand finds to do; plant that garden, learn that song, dance with your children at the local country dance; feed and clothe the poor and care for the sick.  Begin to see this season with new eyes!