The Journey Called Life

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

- Ecclesiastes 3: 11

Have you ever heard or seen how some, or maybe most, babies are not too attractive after being born?

But in due time, a new face and a particular personality is developed; beauty expressed in many ways.

And if by God's grace and His will that child comes to a ripe old age, perhaps the beauty may fade from what is externally seen, yet what has been sowed within may continue to brightly beautify all witnesses.

The notion of “forever” has been argued by philosophers and mystics since men began to discuss life beyond death.

For some, it seems difficult to conceptualize eternity when everything visible eventually comes to an end.

For some others, the idea of forever has not its origins in man's capacity to perceive the Eternal Constant.

Going further:

I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 

- Ecclesiastes 3: 18-19

“Everything is meaningless” ?

How's that for optimism? ( humor )

The human experience, the banality of carnal desires that easily reflect the earth's nature ( and animals ), is a guarantee for the human being.

The participation in the divine nature is something eluded to and found throughout ancient times across all cultures.

Did this notion originate with and where man originated?

Some peoples cared for and kept this knowledge, while others slipped away from it.

Still others edited and made up their own ideas, and still others denied it altogether.

Yet this reality has already been made known since recent “ancient” times ( if two thousands years by about a factor of 25 can be considered ancient ).

Is doing good included into what is considered to be meaningless?

Doesn't the pursuit of things which may eventually hurt yourself and others, although seemingly desirable, attractive and ambitious at the moment, add up to being empty and meaningless when considering our limited time in the flesh?

Do you need to keep paying rent or a tax bill for where your bones will be buried?

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 

- Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13

Well there it is!

“there is nothing better for people than to do good while they live”

If ambitions do not bear good fruits, good works, good results, “paying it forward” as the modern idiom translates... then for who and whom are you finding satisfaction?

Selfish ambitions don't seem to be handed to you as a gift from God.

I learned this first-hand; a harsh and deceptive lesson... not many learn it, but are blind to it.

But in forwarding the effort into and among others, it is quite amazing how God can bless the work of one's hands... prospering the good effort in so many ways, well above and beyond monetary recompense ( the obvious and banal expression of literal prosperity; that which, if void of good works, is found to end as meaningless ).

So how would one start to do good, and commit themselves to doing good works?

Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 

Yeshua answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” 

- John 6: 28-29

Faith in Him begins this life's journey.

This faith also carries you beyond the bounds of this material world.

Ask for this faith; He is willing to give!

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

- James 1: 12