A Timely Rebirth

It is normal to read a passage of scripture and have no idea what it means because it is God's word and is foreign to us.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, however, reading the Bible with understanding is far easier than sifting through tax forms, legal documents or medical publications.  The LORD is able to make His word go straight to our hearts and sheds light on life in ways we never previously considered.  I love and appreciate God's word is true, trustworthy and relevant.  Often God's word is a personal call to action, and He supplies instruction and correction that is always wise and practical.

Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 was part of my Bible reading this morning God shed light on for me:  "If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.  ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness."  The contrast between the man with 100 children who lived a long life and a stillborn child was unexpected and shocking.  It is remarkable a child who never lived a day could be better thought of and remembered than a father of many children, and it is indeed possible.  Man can achieve and acquire many possessions; he can sire children and build an empire.  But if his soul is not filled with good--if he is ungodly and no one cares to remember him--an unborn child has more going for him.  From Solomon's temporal, worldly perspective, what advantage did the man who lived a long life have over the unborn child when they both go to the grave?

This comparison provoked much thought for me.  To live and develop the reputation of being greedy, wicked, surly and selfish, what a waste it would be of the opportunity God gives us to honour Him and reflect well upon the grace and blessings God has provided us.  It is incredible the one who lived long and accomplished much can be less thought of than the stillborn child who never said a word or lived a day.  We do not know how long we will live, but our choices make a difference how we will be remembered by God and other people.  Those who are born again by faith in Christ and live life in light of God's goodness to them will be well-remembered on earth and have an eternal legacy in the presence of God.  Right when we needed God, Jesus came to us in His time and way to be with us forever.

God gives us one lifetime, and the only day we can do anything is today:  we have this one day to be generous, loving and kind.  Today we can be a caring listener, helper and godly leader.  Today is our one chance to love our spouse, children and friends, and in His strength we can make the most of this present moment to serve and do good.  In looking to God we see what is truly good, and He guides us to live in the way that pleases Him.  People do not need children or a long life to be satisfied in the life God graciously gives us, for to be His children forever is our greatest privilege.  Without Christ our lives spiritually resemble a stillborn child, great potential for life ultimately unrealised.  Paul considered himself "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:7) and when it comes to being born again by faith in Jesus:  "Better late than never!"