Hany profound statements are attributed to wise man Solomon, the son of David, who observed that there is a time for everything under the sun.
We learn from 1 Kings 4:32 that Solomon spoke some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs.
This information, commentators say, “highlights the immense quantity and scope of Solomon's wisdom, literary works and his musical compositions”.
One of those thousands of wise sayings is the subject of our talk this weekend.
The human heart
When Solomon declared that God has made everything beautiful in its time, he added profoundly that God has also set eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The truth that God has set eternity in the human heart flies in the face of those who presume that earthly life is all we have, so “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!”
Many centuries ago, while the prophet Isaiah tried to warn the people about the impending danger for their disobedience and evil deeds, the people blocked their ears.
Instead of repenting and turning away from their wickedness, they lived in revelry and feasting, ignoring God’s ways.
Their shallow attitude was: Let us eat and drink, for tomrrow we shall die (Isaiah 22:13).
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he argued along those lines, saying that if there were no life hereafter, then, we may as well say, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die! (1 Corinthians 15:32).
In fact, Solomon himself, when he strayed from God and sought pleasure in materialism, became so disillusioned that he cried out, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
We acknowledge that whatever God gives us must be received with gratitude and appreciation, but we should not forget that genuine contentment in our everyday living comes from God and not from worldly pleasures.
In other words, unless God is the source of our enjoyment on earth, we will eventually come to say with Solomon, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
Why eternity?
Why did God put eternity in our hearts when he created us? To appreciate the answer to this question, we must first remember that eternity is “infinite and timeless”.
Eternity is endless. It can neither be measured nor quantified, representing a state of being without beginning or ending.
So, clearly, God intended for us to live for eternity, hence he put it in our hearts.
One author explains, “God put eternity into humanity’s hearts to serve as a divine reminder that life’s ultimate purpose is spiritual and eternal, not just temporary and materialistic.”
Therefore, whenever we pursue wealth, pleasure and fame while neglecting God, two things happen: first, we get disconnected with our eternal nature; and secondly, we miss out on true satisfaction.
The inborn yearning for something more than material things indicates that we are created for an everlasting relationship with God.
The soul, which is who we really are, does not feed on food or drink or pleasure.
Peace, satisfaction
The soul feeds and survives on spirituality—God’s Word, prayer, meditation, relationship with God, righteousness and holiness. Shortage of these in our life impoverishes the soul and makes it restless.
Eternity in our hearts makes it impossible for us to be satisfied with anything outside the eternal God. So, unless we seek him, love him, and worship him in spirit and in truth, we cannot find true peace and satisfaction.
If atheists, free-thinkers (whatever that means!), and pleasure seekers are sincere, they will tell you that their hearts long for something deeper than what they have. It is the eternity in their hearts that is aching for God.
Restless hearts
Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo, North Africa, alluding to eternity in our hearts, says in his book Confessions: “The heart is restless until it finds its rest in its Creator.”
A commentator observes, “Augustine believed that this restlessness is a sign of humanity's divine origin, as God created us with a deep, inherent desire to be reunited with him.”
“Rest” here means peace, satisfaction and assurance of God’s approval.
Hence, the Lord Jesus said, “Come to me all who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”.
Another way eternity in the human heart is expressed is: “What does it profit a person if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Jesus asked.
The wealth of all nations cannot match the value of the human soul.
Since human beings are prone to hiding from God (as Adam and Eve did), God himself decided to reach out to humanity by coming in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour.
That way, he urgently calls us back to himself, that we may receive his salvation, be reconciled to him, and live with him for eternity.
The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers.
E-mail: lawrence.darmani@gmail.com
