Monday, October 02, 2006

Is Life Random?

We were in Ecclesiastes 3 yesterday which begins with that magnificent cyclical poem There is a time... and the question for the morning was Is Life Random? Was the author of Ecclisiastes Calvinist before there was a Calvin?

After much discussion and a look at Ps. 3l:15 "our times are in God's hands" and Jeremiah 29:11 "God knows the plans he has for us". most of the group agreed that every event is a part of God's plan--there is a purpose for our birth, our death, and everything in between. Where free will intervenes is anybody's guess and another topic for discussion, as is the place of predestintion. I am loving teaching Ecclesiastes--it is challenging!

As we approach the end of the chapter in vs. 18 and on, the writer scares Christians by seeming to negate the idea of an afterlife. We all die like the dogs and then we turn back to dust. My question with this will be, if Ecclesiastes is inspired and a part of the canon, why did not the "Inspirer" drop a hint to this wisest man in the world about Jesus and the resurrection? Earlier in the book, vs. 11 says he has "Put eternity in our hearts"--is that a reference to heaven?

Somebody help me, please.

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