Ecclesiastes is an interesting book. As Jewish Encyclopedia puts it: "The Israelitish name for God is nowhere employed, nor does there appear to be any reference to Judaic matters; hence there seems to be a possibility that the book is an adaptation of a work in some other language"
It's very nihilistic. "Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless." Ecc 1:2 but suggests that one should enjoy the pleasures such as eating, drinking, enjoying work.
Yeah, and to make matters worse! you have no "knowledge" of it either."
It may have been said in jest but that's a good point. Before I accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, I really did think the life that I was living was as good as life got. C. S. Lewis describes it as playing in mud holes because you don't know south pacific islands exist, or something like that.
Mmm, Gorth, I forgot. I find Ecclesiastes to be a perfect description of the absurdity of atheism.
Happiness is not found in any "thing" It is a gift from God to those whose goal it is to please Him. Verse 24 of chapter 2 doesn't mean there's nothing better, it means that without God, this is as good as it gets.
Yet we don't listen. Each one of us sets out to prove the findings of this writter all over again on our own. Only a few of us are fortunate enough to discover the truth of 12:13 ".. . here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man."
The earlier that you discover this, the better off your life will be, as will be the lives of those who love you.
Mak.."C. S. Lewis describes it as playing in mud holes because you don't know south pacific islands exist, or something like that."
Well i guess C.S.Lewis likely would have too, Mak .But the thing is if god really is the giver and taker of these things.Well if he holds back on certain peoples knowledge,well it really comes down to giving them nothing but mere luck that they change.
As I understand it, God withholds knowledge of Himself from those whom He knows will reject His offer of salvation. It gets into that whole foreknew predestined etc. of Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew (those who knew would accept His offer of salvation) He predestined (worked out, arranged for) them to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus."
I'm blocking on who said it, not Plato but - mmm it's no coming - anyhow, God has provided just enough evidence of His existence so that those who are looking for Him will be able to find Him and just enough evidene of His existence so that those who don't want to find Him won't be able to find Him accidently.
11 comments:
I wonder what God gives to the women who pleases Him. I bet He just asks her to leave afterward.
Speaking of a humour switch :-)
If you are not wise and happy, God hates you.
Chris Mackey said...
If you are not wise and happy, God hates you."
Yeah, and to make matters worse! you have no "knowledge" of it either.
Ecclesiastes is an interesting book.
As Jewish Encyclopedia puts it:
"The Israelitish name for God is nowhere employed, nor does there appear to be any reference to Judaic matters; hence there seems to be a possibility that the book is an adaptation of a work in some other language"
It's very nihilistic.
"Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless." Ecc 1:2
but suggests that one should enjoy the pleasures such as eating, drinking, enjoying work.
Hmmm... Sounds like something that I have heard before:
1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
Anton Levey
Yeah, and to make matters worse! you have no "knowledge" of it either."
It may have been said in jest but that's a good point. Before I accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, I really did think the life that I was living was as good as life got. C. S. Lewis describes it as playing in mud holes because you don't know south pacific islands exist, or something like that.
Mmm, Gorth, I forgot. I find Ecclesiastes to be a perfect description of the absurdity of atheism.
Happiness is not found in any "thing" It is a gift from God to those whose goal it is to please Him. Verse 24 of chapter 2 doesn't mean there's nothing better, it means that without God, this is as good as it gets.
Yet we don't listen. Each one of us sets out to prove the findings of this writter all over again on our own. Only a few of us are fortunate enough to discover the truth of 12:13
".. . here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man."
The earlier that you discover this, the better off your life will be, as will be the lives of those who love you.
Mak.."C. S. Lewis describes it as playing in mud holes because you don't know south pacific islands exist, or something like that."
Well i guess C.S.Lewis likely would have too, Mak .But the thing is if god really is the giver and taker of these things.Well if he holds back on certain peoples knowledge,well it really comes down to giving them nothing but mere luck that they change.
As I understand it, God withholds knowledge of Himself from those whom He knows will reject His offer of salvation. It gets into that whole foreknew predestined etc. of Romans 8:29
"For those God foreknew (those who knew would accept His offer of salvation) He predestined (worked out, arranged for) them to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus."
I'm blocking on who said it, not Plato but - mmm it's no coming - anyhow, God has provided just enough evidence of His existence so that those who are looking for Him will be able to find Him and just enough evidene of His existence so that those who don't want to find Him won't be able to find Him accidently.
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