What is out there? That is a question that most people have asked at some time or another. I do suppose that William Shatner has or had asked that question many times. I am not a Star Trek aficionado or really much of a huge fan. I think like most people I have seen some episodes, seen one of the movies, or simply have an idea as to the premise of what Star Trek is about. So, back to the question of what is out there – we all have probably asked that question. Does our Christian worldview change the way in which we look at the question of what is out there?
In our church Sunday School, we have been working through the Book of Ecclesiastes. As we have been doing this, I do think we, as followers of Christ, are developing a deeper desire for the knowledge of God. In that pursuit of knowing God more, let us take a look at Ecclesiastes 3:11. Does this verse give clarity to our pursuit or does it cloud us in regard to our pursuit. It is a statement that can be found as very hopeful to believers in their pursuit of a deeper knowledge of God.
Who could make the statement, “I know everything that there is to know?” I would offer that the answer is somebody who is not considering God. We might say that the maker of the just mentioned statement is looking at “everything under the sun.” In considering only the created things it is clear that the Creator is not considered. As it is discovered in the two early chapters of Ecclesiastes a person can investigate all the things from personal possessions to nature to even politics and know what is going on. But in doing that in the absence of God does one end up only seeing what God desires to be seen? The view of saying that “I know everything,” is a pride filled position for a person to be in. Now, believers in God would not take that approach, would they?
Verse 3:11 of Ecclesiastes has two parts for us to delve into. “He has made everything appropriate in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NASB). Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes has given reference in his statement to the creation account in Genesis. The creation account in Genesis 1 is six days of perfect planning, perfect order, and perfection by God. Remember that as each stage of the creation process took place God responded to His actions by acknowledging that all that He had done “was good.” Solomon as he pondered the actions of God did not know the words of Jesus that we know. But he was arriving at that conclusion in regard to the ultimate authority of God. Jesus Himself said, “But of the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). For believers in pursuit of a deeper knowledge of God, this is hopeful. Our pursuit to understand more of God, when focused on His character, builds up hope in us, and that hope allows us to say, “I may not know everything about You God, but my trust and hope are in You.” The more we pursue than the more we build our confident expectation of God (hope).
Let us not forget the second part of Ecclesiastes 3:11 in which is written, “He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” If eternity is set in the heart of those who are the image bearers of God, then we have the hope of one day being in the presence of God. If the pursuit of God was limited to our time here on earth, then the reality of an impossible task would be before us. If all that is for us was here on earth than could we ever be satisfied with what we have or our achievements? This is one of the points that Solomon is able to settle on during his search detailed in the Book of Ecclesiastes. We do not have the full picture of our future at anytime while here on earth. That full picture points us to eternity, and that is where the hope and trust that we have is wrapped up. God is the full picture of all that is to come for us.