Devotion by Susan Lyttek: Wisdom Leads to Grief...and Beyond

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:18

Reading Suggestion: Ecclesiastes 1

In the 21st century, we know more about the workings of the human body and what heals it than any previous era. We have vaccines to prevent diseases and antibiotics to stop them in their tracks. We know that cleanliness eliminates many threats and good health and nutrition help the body have the strength to fight off the ‘baddies.’ Especially in the Western World, we have all the tools at our disposal to give each human form the best possible chance for the longest possible survival.

But with our information and research, we also know more about what kills. Doctors still can't prevent death in every case where the data would suggest that they could.

Imagine the mixture of satisfaction and frustration a doctor experiences when faced with a patient dying of an incurable disease. "I know exactly what the culprit is. I can see it. My data can pinpoint it. But I can do absolutely nothing to fix what is wrong and make my patient whole again."

In truth, no matter how much studies advance and how many diseases we prevent through knowledge, one truth remains. Everyone alive will, at some point, die.

Nearly 3,000 years ago, Solomon saw his society in the same manner. As the wisest man ever, He knew what was ailing it, he even knew the cure, but he could do nothing about it. Life ‘under the sun’ is living in a dying world. In fact, as a pastor mentioned on one Easter Sunday, we begin dying at birth. The wisdom of Solomon in this chapter reminds us that any life that focuses on the here and now is vanity, a breath, a vapor.

Before that leads you to despair, think about the cross of Christ. Through Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15, my paraphrase). Thankfully, this flower that fades away isn’t all that God planned for us. From the beginning of time, He intended death to act as the starting gate to life eternal with Him. If you know Jesus and follow him in love and truth, as death closes the door to the temporary, it will open to glorious life forever.

When despair threatens, hold onto the promise. One day you will open your eyes to the heavenly dawn, where all the joys and thrills you’ve known here will be but echoes and shadows. He promised an amazing forever life!


Thought: Thank God that you know the true meaning of life and share that hope and promise with someone else.


About Susan:

Susan A. J. Lyttek, author of newly released kids’ comedy, Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and the cozy mystery Homeschooling Can Be Murder by Harbourlight Books, enjoys training up the next generation of writers through Write At Home by coaching middle and high school students. Find out about upcoming books and more at sajlyttek.com.  


Guzzy blurb:  
 

Just when I thought my summer was safe, Mom got a bright idea. Me, Guzzy, on stage as Prince Charming armed with a plastic sword. If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.