The Mystery of Time

Bryce continues our study in the book of Ecclesiastes, looking at Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. As the Teacher continues to examine life under the sun, he bids us consider the mystery of time. Our days are cyclical. And we feel this. Things come and go. What goes up must come down. There is a season and a time for every activity under heaven – both desirable and undesirable. No amount of pursuing the desirable seasons will keep the undesirable seasons permanently at bay. And no amount of lamenting the undesirable seasons will make the desirable ones return any faster. No glass-half-full optimist could deny that here under the sun are seasons of loss and mourning and uprooting and hate. And no glass-half-empty pessimist can remain impervious and impenetrable to healing and laughter and love.

We give birth, and we die. No matter how much we plant, the time comes to uproot. We kill; we heal; we tear down; we build. But no matter how much effort – no matter how excellent – no matter how beautiful or effective or earnest your building is – at some point, it will be torn down. All laughter will eventually turn to mourning, and all mourning will eventually turn to laughter again. Everything kept will eventually be thrown away. What is torn must be sewn, but what is sewn will be torn again. Peacetime will always be interrupted by calls to war. But don’t fall in love with war because every war will end, and you will have to live with yourself again in peacetime.

“What do we gain from these struggles?” the Teacher asks. Nothing really. The seasons still continue. We don’t learn how to prevent the undesirable ones. They come and go and toss and turn, and we are endlessly busied just trying to keep up with the changing seasons. And it seems as if it is all busy work. Distraction. Something to keep us occupied as we pass our days. Still, God has made everything appropriate in its time. There is a comfort to be found there. To simply take things in stride, embrace the mystery of time, and just do what must be done in the season at hand. And this is wisdom. 

But then again – God has put eternity in our hearts. We have an appetite to break out of this cycle – to press beyond the seasonality. We have a hunger for more permanent things! And surely, it was the Creator that stamped that longing on our hearts and yet seemingly condemned us to the cycle nonetheless! A cycle from which we can neither discern nor disrupt the lasting work that God gets to do. This is God’s gift – to eat and drink and take pleasure in our efforts. But the fruits of our efforts are only temporary. They have an expiration date on them. Every night of hard-earned sleep will only be broken by another wake-up call. So, the Teacher says to enjoy it while it is here. Rest in the time of rest because a time of labour is soon on its heels. And labour in the time of labour lest the night come and you fail to take advantage of it!

But as you do, do so with the sobriety of knowing that nothing you do lasts forever. What God does lasts forever. Be in awe of him. And lose some of the awe you feel for yourself. Let go some of the admiration you have for the work of your own efforts. Everything you accomplish – whatever is – has already been done before. And whatever you will do – whatever will be – already exists. Every season that comes has come before; and every season that goes will come again. So plant, uproot, tear down, build, weep, laugh, dance, embrace, lose, keep, throw away, war against, and love. Knowing that everything you accomplish and endure and experience under the sun is only for a season. Let this both comfort and humble you. And do it all in awe of the God whose work endures.