We're busy. Busy Busy Busy. There is no doubt about it. But we always fit what's important to us into our schedule. We can always seem to make time for what is necessary. That's why work never seems to get pushed to the side—we all need an income to survive! Unfortunately, we do not always make what's important, our top priority. So, here's the challenge: Atheists and Christians alike... Take a moment to think about your death. Grim, I know. But many never take the time to ponder the inevitable.
The fact is, we are all going to die. That excellent job, beautiful house, lavish dinners, and new boat are all vanity. Your desire to attain success or money... all vanity. They are all worthless and futile. Because we are all going to parish and they will amount to nothing. They will be worthless to you when you die, and even worse, you yourself will be soon forgotten...
I know, that's such a depressing thing to realize. But these are wise words. They come from one of the wisest of them all. The richest man that ever lived, who had all and abundantly more than he desired, spoke those very words. This man, this King, had everything he wanted. Money, fame, wives, children, the best food, the best clothes, the biggest mansions, the finest of all the lands. Yet, in the end, he realized it was all vanity. They were all worthless and meant nothing. His hard work and success, futile. He was chasing the wind.
As an Atheist, I too was on the same path as this famous King. I chartered my ship towards the shores of success, reaping bounties I never thought imaginable at the young age of 20. However, I wasn't even close to my colleagues and business partners. They had vast amounts more than me, and my eye glistened as I witnessed their bountiful success. Yet they toiled and toiled after more and more. It baffled me. Millions of dollars earned, vast amounts of equity later, all the toys a man desired, yet they continued to toil after more and more.
How many times have you witnessed such a successful person and said to yourself, "Why do they continue to want more wealth? If I had that much I would retire and enjoy the fruits of my labor!" I know I had many times. The reality? It's all futile.
I realized this soon after I bought my first sports car. Before I shelled out the cash, I said to myself, "If I get this sports car, that will be it! I will be satisfied and will be more than happy with my purchase. I won't need anything better!" I purchased it knowing that it was an amazing dream that I had finally accomplished! A beautiful two-seater that I could enjoy throughout my life—a testament to my success and a means of happiness! Boy, was I wrong. It wasn't but a month or two later that I was speeding down I-75 when a beautiful new Corvette clipped passed me. Without thinking I said out loud, "I have got to get one of those!" I almost immediately choked on my words. I instantly realized my plight. My desires, my goals, my perspective on life at that very moment... was futile. It hit me right in the face. I was chasing the wind.
There I was driving the sports car of my dreams, and it wasn't fully enough. I really wanted that Corvette, saw it as superior, and the Z lost its spark at that very instant! That new Vette zipping by me forever changed my life. It was the first time I caught a glimpse of what it was like to chase the wind, to recognize that I was living in vanity. I quickly thought of all my even more successful friends, some of whom had two story garages of beautiful cars well out of my price range. And yet they were chasing more. It was never enough. No matter what stage in life, big or small, we always chase after the "next level". What we have, is never enough. Most of us continue chasing the wind. And the wise King, who had it all and more, says it is all vanity chasing after the wind.
So here is the rest of the challenge: Take some time and read the words of this wise King who had it all. See what his conclusion is. Learn from the wisest person who ever lived. It could change your life. I was an Agnostic at the time I realized my own vain life, and had yet to glean the wisdom of King Solomon. As a former Atheist, I highly encourage you to read these wise words, because they will most likely ring true in what you've witnessed in your own personal lives and experiences. Please, have an open mind and an open heart, and look for King Solomon's conclusion. You may want to take the challenge multiple times, but that's a bonus.
Challenge:
Ponder your death for just a moment (a couple of minutes or so).
Pray and ask the Father to give you eyes to see and ears to hear what the scriptures have to say.
Read the entire book of Ecclesiastes (30 minutes)
Consider King Solomon's wise words and honestly reflect on your life.
This is an easy challenge that should take you less than 30 minutes if you read it yourself. However, if you're not a huge fan of reading, may I suggest the Bible.is app? It's a fantastic app that reads the scripture to you while you read it on your phone. Just do yourself a favor and give this your undivided attention. It will take almost exactly 30 minutes to listen and read along.
Don't put this off. You can make 30 minutes time even today. I highly doubt you'll regret it, even if you walk away with more questions than answers. Let's learn from those that have gone before us so that we do not repeat history!
May our Heavenly Father bless you as you read his perfect unchanging Word!
Sean is a former Atheist who was finally awoken to the reality of our Creator—which lead him to the one place he thought he would never step foot: “Bible College.” During his studies, our Heavenly Father flipped his Christian worldview upside down in order to reveal the Whole truth of His perfect Word. As a follower of Messiah Yahusha (Christ Jesus), Sean encourages believers to deepen their faith, seek the truth, test everything, and be willing to walk in the true image they were created: the image of the Most High and his flawless son.