The Things of Which We Are Ignorant

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

The book of Ecclesiastes is full of rare texts upon which we can meditate. One such text lies before us today. ‘As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.’ This text brings us face to face with our own ignorance. The wind blows constantly over the earth. We have, as humans, studied it for centuries yet, are in many respects, still ignorant of all of its’ complexities. So also, with the growth of a child, in utero, we have some knowledge, yet still do not possess some of the deepest secrets of this often recurring process. What may we draw from this text? First, that no matter how much knowledge we do possess, we are still ignorant of many things. Second, what is unknown to us, is known to God. God knows all these things that we know, and all the things we do not know. He is, in every respect, the All-Knowing God. What is unfathomable to us is common knowledge to Him. Having said that, we ought also to consider how we may know at least some of what God knows. God graciously reveals things to us. He does so by His creation, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.’ He has revealed to us things by His word, ‘The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.’ He has revealed to us above all the Person and Work of Christ. Christ is the Cure for our deepest ignorance about the most important subjects. As we come to know Christ, our ignorance decreases and our knowledge of important matters grows. Evermore teach us, O, God.

Our most Gracious and All-Wise God,
we rejoice that You know all things.
We praise You that You have revealed Yourself to us, in so many ways.
Continue, O, God, to cure our ignorance.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Better Is The End

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof….

Ecclesiastes 7:8

We are arriving, day by day to the end of the year. So also, by degrees we are coming to the end of this little work, which has, as its’ object the encouragement of the people of God. Solomon wisely observed, ‘Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof….’  How may we best understand this? Allow me, please, to suggest several things. We may begin life under duress, beset by grave difficulties, yet God, in His abundant Mercy brings us ultimately to His desired haven. We may journey through life and in that journey encounter hardships of every stripe and variety, yet God upholds us through all of them. Christ, Our Shepherd, has led us every step of our pilgrim pathway. Although we have encountered the wolves which seek to destroy the flock; the giants who defy the God of Israel; the lions and bears who seek to tear and devour, yet Christ has been our Ever Sure Defender. He has delivered us on every occasion thus far. As Paul came to the end of his earthly journey, he testified, ‘And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and shall preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.’ In every way we can conceive, because we are in Christ, we have reason to look forward to the end of things. The end of sanctification is Christlikeness; the end of this life is the beginning of unbroken fellowship with Christ; the end of the age is the beginning of eternity in the Kingdom. Yes, ‘Better is the end, of a thing than the beginning.’ Thank you, dear Reader, for your attention to the end of this thing.

O, Great Shepherd of the sheep, You have led us safely thus far.
We praise You for Your grace and favor, in upholding us through all our pilgrim pathway.
We look forward to that great day, when we shall see You Face to face,
and all the trials of this life, and all its’ tribulations, end in glory.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice