by Kellie Kinnear
In the book of Genesis, we read that God breathed the earth into existence. Every purpose and life-giving promise over His creation came to pass.
‘’And it was so.’’ (Genesis 1:30)
Though we, the crown of God’s creation, fell to selfish pride, it did not alter His plan. He purposed to hold His beloved created unto Himself and promised His unfailing commitment to this end. We, His beloved created are His sole desire. God is faithful and trustworthy. His word filled with hope and truth. Even the book of Ecclesiastes, with its pitiful ‘life is meaningless’ refrain, has, tucked away within its teaching, some precious promises.
“He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11 - Amplified Bible)
‘Everything made beautiful’, ‘eternity set in our hearts’, unfathomable, divine promise.
This picture of what God has done ‘beyond our understanding from beginning to end’ is a resounding and recurring message throughout scripture. In Ecclesiastes “the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (1:1), illustrates this message through the seasons “under the sun during the few days of life God has given” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). He expresses times of deep regret, hopelessness, and resignation; yet through the wisdom of lived experience, also gives assurance of better things to come. Plans for more than we could ever perceive in our finite human form. Here is wise King Solomon, teaching from a life lived large, reminding us that whatever God purposes comes to pass and does so beyond our control and comprehension.
Today I am reminded of the certainty of seasons by a familiar sound. Adjacent to our home is a cattle property. In spring, the calves are weaned, and their mothers are moved to a distant paddock. This parcel of land is visible from our house. Some days I spot a gathering of these mamas among the trees on the hillside. I listen for their melancholy lowing echoing through the valley as they call for their calves. Over weeks, the lowing ceases, the pain of separation passes. Calving season has ended… life goes on. There is an instinctive rush of comfort in this rhythmical pattern. God has purposed these rhythms as a reminder of our inexorable connection to His creation.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but God is already in it. In the joy and the pain, God will bless us. When there are more questions than answers, God does show us a way. The greatest promise God has fulfilled is sending His son to restore His broken beloved creation. His name is Jesus.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
(Hebrews 10:23)
Kellie and her family fellowship at Minden Baptist Church, where Kellie coordinates Music Play at Minden (their community playgroup). She and her husband Sean have 4 children aged 11 -22. Her joy is to see women find freedom through knowing they are valued and loved by Jesus.
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