Week 3: Eternity in Their Hearts
“What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.” Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
Come with me friends as we look at what God has put into our hearts.
I love the phrase “eternity in their hearts.” It speaks to me that I am called to something more than what is here on earth. {verse 11}
The way C.S. Lewis puts it speaks deeply to my soul. He says this, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I don’t know about you, but this rings true in my own heart as I feel this deep longing for something….more.
Solomon has been telling us this so far in Ecclesiastes, hasn’t he? He is longing for something more and nothing he is finding is even beginning to satisfy.
And while I love the phrase eternity in their hearts, is there any hope for the here and now – the not yet there part? As we look in these verses we find the answer— a resounding yes. Yes, we will have that longing for our future life in heaven that promises no more suffering or pain as well as deep fulfillment – but there is also a great God who can satisfy our hearts in the here and now.
We are reminded that God is holy and has made everything beautiful in its time. {verse 11}
His ways are forever and ever, and His plan is outside of time. {verse 14}
And man can enjoy all the great blessings for which God has gifted him because they are, after all, gifts from HIM. {verse 13}
So how does this work out practically in our every day life? How do we take what we learn and read and apply it to now?
- We praise God for his holiness. We actively take our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances {our groanings} and turn our eyes to Him because we trust that He has a plan. We might not understand His plan, but just knowing that He stands outside of time and outside of our life and its stresses can give us a calm that passes understanding.
- We thank Him for what He is doing in our lives and especially for the times when we try and try to find something to satisfy us and come up short. We thank Him for those times because they are a gift. We realize in our searching that the only thing that can truly satisfy us is God Himself. Nothing else fills that need. Nothing else soothes that ache. Him alone.
- We acknowledge the gifts and blessings He has given us. We don’t look around at the gifts and blessings we wish He had given us – we look at what He has given us and choose to say it is enough.
Father God, we thank you today for Your Word that is living and active. We thank you for the way that you speak to us as we study bit by bit through your Holy Word. Thank you for the truths you speak into our lives through it. Thank you for your eternal plan, for what you are doing in our lives, and for the blessings and gifts you have given to each of us. Thank you for placing eternity in our hearts and for satisfying our souls. We love you, Lord. Amen.
Let’s Talk: How about you? Share with all of us in the comments what you are learning today!
With Love From Uganda,
Weekly Challenge: This week, spend some quiet time with God and do the following: 1) Praise Him for His holiness 2) Thank Him for what He is doing in your life 3) Acknowledge the gifts and blessings He has given you.
Can’t see the video? Click here!
I was struck by the challenge to thank him for the blessings he’s given me. I too wrestle with looking around at others and wishing and wondering why I can’t have what they have. God has given me so much and I need to be grateful. And I’m also challenged to be a better steward of what he’s given me. So my car is 26 years old! Well I need to care for it well for why would God give me a nicer and newer car if I don’t care well for what I have? Same with our house. If we struggle to stay on top of cleaning and taking care of it why would God give us a bigger one and more yard? Same with finances. If we don’t manage well our current income why would God increase it? Sometimes I think we stand in the way of being blessed more. God wants to but he knows what we can handle. Sometimes we have to grow up and show we can be faithful stewards consistently before he will entrust us with more. And it’s for our own good! He knows not only what we need but what we can handle. So not only will I choose to be more thankful but more responsible and faithful!
This is good! I needed this!
That’s a great reflection!
Great insight!
Wow, Lauren! So true! That is a wonderful way to look at things! Thank you for sharing that, it gives me much to ponder!
Painful to hear, but so good!
Very well said! I now see it as you do!
Such a great statement Lauren! I needed that as well. Why would God bless us with more if we’re not taking care of what we have. It’s so simple but such a good insight!
Yes! Thank you for this!
Very well said. Need to shift the focus from me back to Him, and be thankful for everything I have.
Thank you Lauren.. 🙂 This is good.. A great reminder..
Yes Lauren! This is so true.
Thank you!
God is outside of time and our circumstances. I have been praying about a certain issue for over a year. I believe God is going to act on this issue but in His time. I am exhausted by the waiting sometimes. It’s nice to be reminded thatGod sees more than the here and now.
I have truly come to believe that our time on earth is the beginning of our journey, and that earth is not our home it is a place we pass through. The beginning of our journey is the hard part of our journey. Nothing we have here is truly ours, it is on loan from God, and we tend, we care, we love but when we go to our eternal home we leave it all behind. When God is ready for us he will call us home to heaven our eternal home. We will join those gone before us and the ones we left behind will join us in God’s time.
He is indeed. And as you said the you “believe god is going to act….in His time” is a great reminder that He is in control of everything. And all will come in His time. Every situation we are in, everything we are praying for, is intended to bring us closer to Him during that season.
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
This study has been an eye opener for me, today has been what I needed, thanks Joy for your video.
Blessings to you at LGG!
We’re so thankful this study has been a blessing to you, Shirley! We’re thankful to have you joining us!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
This devotion came at the perfect time for me. “He has made everything beautiful in His time”…not in my time, but in His time. As I reflect on this, I’m encouraged because while there is a “bigger” plan, God sees me and has His hands on the intimate details of my life. He has placed desires in my heart and when the time is right, He will bring those things. It’s also a great reminder to me as I think on all the things that I have prayed for and blessings that have come to pass, yet there was still a longing or ache for something more. A longing that only He can fill. “He has made everything beautiful in its time”.
Stacy, so beautifully said friend! Thank you for sharing those encouraging words with us!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
I am being reminded that God exists outside of time, so an article posted about 5 years ago is still relevant in today’s time. Thank you Holy Spirit.
Amen! We praised God for His Holiness….and He sets hearts of men for eternity, love the word “eternity” meaning when we die we will spend our life with him in heaven, as He described in John 3:16, “For God so loved the word that he sent his one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ that whosoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life”, (everlasting life). I have been applying, “Give thanks in everything for this is Christ will for you in Christ Jesus” in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, when we apply this in our everyday life we will be able to remember to give Him thanks in all that we have and I all that we do, knowing everything comes from Him even our strenght and courage and when acknowledge Him in everything, everything turns to be a blessing! Maybe if Solomon have found this in the beginning of Ecclesiastes, his life will be meaningful and all the hard worked he did, will indeed a blessings! All the riches and wealth that he did was all meaningless to him because he did them apart from God. Thanks for your video and you prayer, I enjoyed them.
Marilyn, thank you for stopping by today and sharing your words with us! We’re happy to have you joining in on the study!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
I just have to comment on the #2 & 3 challenges above…After a divorce I was stripped of so many things that made up my identity (job, roles in the home, physical challenges, even losing both my dogs, kids off to college, friends). The losses abounded. But I do now see it was a GIFT to lose all I did to gain Christ and cling to Him. My heart is full and thanks to a friend who introduced me to LGG studies last fall which have kept my heart fixed on Jesus. This friend also has helped me practice #3 thankfulness. We email each other daily 5 things we are thankful for. What a blessing to get a new perspective in training our minds to think on thankfulness instead of losses. God is good. I am filled with thanksgiving!
Beautiful gifts rising up from the ashes of your divorce Beth! Thanks for sharing your journey. And I agree that it’s much better to count our blessings than our losses.
Aw, I love that Beth! What a blessing to have a friend that you can do that with! I think I will “steal” that idea and begin to txt my girlfriends in Christ and encourage them with thinking of 5 things that week to be thankful for! Thank you for sharing!
Beth, thank you for sharing your journey with us! We’re SO thankful that you found us and that your friend introduced LGG to you! Praying the study continues to be a blessing for you, friend!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
Years ago I read a good book by Catherine Marshall on this theme, I recommend it.
#2 really stood out to me, I makes me realize that all of those times, (and there are many!!), when I tried to find happiness in my life apart from God, are too, a blessing! Those times, after I pursued that thing or that person, and made a mess of things, and still came up wanting, truly are a gift from God. Yes, even in those times I can praise Him, because in those times I have been brought closer to God. I need to stop condemning myself for those times and start seeing them as a blessing, and give Him thanks! Thank you for the change of perspective ?!
Amen, Mistie! Love how you say “in those times I have been brought closer to God”. He uses every instance in our lives, even the hard ones…especially the hard ones – to draw us in closer to Him. Thank YOU for sharing with us today! So happy to have you joining in on the study!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
A double take for me-a reminder to take eyes off of self/circumstances and turn and FOCUS on God. God gave me this verse as encouragement that He will indeed change loved ones’ hearts for He alone makes everything beautiful in HIS time. OK , I want to groan like the Psalmist in the 13th chapter “How long, O God?” He works all things together for good so if I can submit to learn patience, contentment in His timing and rest in HIS control, then not only I have more peace but He is Faithful and Will answer–maybe He’s waiting to He accomplished His purpose in me!
Regarding a comment above, sometimes less is more, a smaller house takes less time to clean SO a person can have more time with family, kingdom work. Simplify, organize and stay focused on what really matters for HIM:) Blessings like a bigger house means hosting-gladly, more hours at work demands more responsiblity in keeping everything flowly for family, quality time…again if we have it-it is a blessing/talent to be used/enjoyed/shared with others; if we don’t have it rejoice in simplicity and enjoy a walk in the park:) Whatever we have or don’t have-our purpose is the same-knowing Jesus and making Him known.
Joy-comment really stood out to be thankful to God for every blessing-waking up, freedom to do Bible studies on line with technology from overseas, health, family, job! Liked a comment-sending friend 5 things thankful for every day-awesome, intentional focus! Thank you all for sharing:)
I loved today’s video! Thank you! I really felt the same kinds of things were coming to mind as I was reflecting on the study so far. I loveee that verse about God putting eternity in the hearts of men. We are made to find fulfilment in God, nothing else satisfies and just as in the video was said – that is a huge comfort. We don’t need to look anywhere else for peace and happiness, we have it in Christ Jesus. I’m really enjoying this study, thank you so much. I’ve also started a blog which I’m hoping to update weekly on my thoughts through the readings of the week! I’ll just link it here in case anyone sees this and is interested in reading another perspective on the bible study. 🙂 https://clairebmh.wordpress.com
Claire, we’re so happy you’re enjoying the study!!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us ! “We don’t need to look anywhere else for peace and happiness, we have it in Christ Jesus” <– YES, you are so right!!!
Blessings, Marlene – LGG Encourager
Eternity in my heart-thank you Jesus.
I got to spend the weekend in Sedona, AZ this past weekend and I realized all of us as we come seeking beauty many are searching for something. I realized that without many of us realizing it, we are really seeking God! It made me see with a new urgency our purpose as followers of Christ to point others to Him and to pray for them that their searching can end when they find God! And praying that my own restless still searching heart can rest in God alone and enjoy the beauty but not seek those things to fill me. Thank you for sharing this Joy! It’s amazing how so much of it out into words what I was feeling on the trip! Love how God speaks to us in so many different ways!