Better Days: Behind or Ahead?

Ecclesiastes 7:10-11 “Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this; wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.”

This was about 1000 B.C. by King Solomon. It was a different culture, a different people, in a much different time, but Solomon knew the Lord, and God gifted him with truths that we overlook. He had a vision of what life is all about. He had similar thoughts to ours. The days gone by are the “good old days.”

So. Better days ahead? Behind? Which is it? Don’t be one that talks about the former days being better than these. Stop and think about it. We all have a tendency to think the past was always the better time. We also have the tendency to elevate the past excessively because the focus is on good things and times while the bad is forgotten.

Yes. In the past we may have had better health, but other areas maybe not so good. We can pick from any good or bad day, any time of laughter or sorrow in the past or present. We must quit comparing them and saying today could never be better than yesterday. Serving the Lord was good then and it’s still good today. Sure there have been ups and downs. We’ve sinned and repented. We’ve had defeats, but we’ve had victories. Through it all Jesus has been the same. Today is as good as any day in the past because of Jesus Christ. In fact, today ought to be a better day. We’ve prayed a little more than yesterday. We’ve been in another worship service and fellowshipped with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We can’t stand in front of the mirror and watch our wrinkles come. It takes time. Our spiritual growth takes time too. It doesn’t spout out; it’s a steady process. We grow everyday. Every verse we read, every prayer we pray, every time we say no to the devil helps us grow. In the present we focus more on our problems and not the love and mercy of God. The past seems better. Verse 8 says “better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” It comes with patience. It is not piled on everyday. The children of Israel received manna each day that was sufficient for that day alone. The Lord has given us enough to satisfy and sustain us. We’re blessed and cared for.

God wants us to be real about the past and present. There will always be something to burden us. God gave us grace in the past to bear it, and he does the same today….and will tomorrow. One day we’ll leave this world for a better day. Everyday from now to then will have its troubles, but we’ll also have the unfailing love of Jesus Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. God was good in the past; he is good right now; he’ll be good tomorrow. We tend to be bleak about the future, but don’t despair. Those without the Lord are the ones who should be in despair. I’m thankful I had the Lord in my past. I have him in my present. It’s very reassuring to know I’ll have him in my future. If time lasts to 2020, there will still be our Jesus Christ, Christianity and church; it will be a good time then.

We have an inheritance which gives us a settled assurance. It won’t all be paradise here, but in our heart everyday can be a good day. The God of all ages is still God, and he is within us. By him we can experience better days. Remember: THE better day is ahead.