Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: September 19th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 3:18-22

Have you noticed that whenever Solomon looks "above the sun" he gets the right perspective, but when he looks "beneath the sun" his blood pressure rises, along with his cynicism? We saw yesterday that when he looked away from the injustice he observed on earth to the day when all wrongs would be righted, he appeared to be in a better frame of mind, but in the verses before us today he has descended into deep cynicism again. Listen to what he says: we are like the animals, and will end up like animals - in oblivion. Solomon's cynicism drives him to make a statement that might seem justified under the circumstances, but is quite untrue. We are different from animals and bound for a different destiny. Solomon is not talking truth here; he is talking cynicism. This is what happens when we take our eyes off God, and the truths He unfolds in His Word - we can descend into making the same kind of rash and heretical statements as Solomon. His words are the musings of a confused cynic and represent what he felt at the time, but they are not to be taken as true for they are contradicted in other parts of Scripture. We ought never to forget as Christians that unless we have a full biblical perspective on issues, we too can descend into making rash and heretical statements just as Solomon did. Cynicism numbs us spiritually and leaves us feeling downcast and disillusioned. A full view of Scripture, however, lifts us up and gives us God's perspectives. Cynicism confuses; Scripture clarifies.

O Father, how thankful I am that You have given me a Book which enables me to have the right perspective on all things. Teach me how to compare one scripture with another. To say not merely "it is written," but "it is written again." In Jesus' Name. Amen.