“Chasing after the wind” is an expression to describe the fruitless results of striving in vain and working towards that which ultimately never satisfies. The story inside the book of Ecclesiastics is one which examines the question, “what would it be like to live and define ourselves without God?”
Observations:
- Qoheleth = teacher
- Hevel = vain striving
- “Under the sun” = “without God”
- Structure = Circles of thought
Conclusions:
- Without God, your life has no objective meaning
- Without God, your life has no satisfying meaning
- Without God, your life has no eternal meaning
- Without God, your life has no sense of purpose
- Without God, your life has no hope through suffering
- Without God, your life has no sense of security
- Without God, evil has no justice
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
Application:
- Center your life in Jesus as the light of life and
- source your happiness not in “good times” but in God
- by fearing and obeying Him
- because you believe that God will straighten every crooked thing
Isaiah 45:5-7
“I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me. I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer. I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.”
Job 2:9-10
“Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said.”
John 8:12
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”