ECCLESIASTES 3:19-20 – “I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.”
THEME OF THE DAY: A WALK IN A CEMETERY. I took a walk this morning in my favorite place; a large and beautiful cemetery near my home and behind my church. Cemeteries are not only quiet places to walk but are excellent teachers about life. As I walked through the tree-lined roads and observed the various gravestones, two lessons from “the teacher” kept reappearing to me.
The first lesson is the reality of today’s scripture – death is certain for all but the day of our death is uncertain to us. I saw graves of infants, children, teenagers, middle aged, and elderly. There were engravings indicating the passing of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. I also saw pictures revealing hobbies and passions in life of those who died. But the lesson for us is that unless Jesus returns, someone will walk through a cemetery and read our names on a stone. The application is to make each day count for eternity or what we read from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians – “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). The reality is we are going to die. We don’t know when so we must live each day like it is our last. It could be.
The second lesson from the cemetery I walked through was life is short. Real short. Even if we reached the age of some of the older folks I read of, it is still short. We feel that with each passing year. The words of Job became quite real as I walked through the rows – “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not” (Job 14:1-2). The lesson and application for this portion of my walk were clear – don’t waste time. And remember, time has no master. It will not be anyone’s subordinate. It is somewhat misleading to say we need to learn how to manage our time better like we are in control. Time cannot be managed but it will be used. We either use it wisely or squander it foolishly, but it will wait on no one. Nor will it give itself back for a re-do if we waste it. Time knows nothing about grace and mercy. It marches to its own drumbeat, and it waits for nobody. So, use the time that has been allotted to you in this life wisely and for what matters most.
Well, it was a good walk through this beautiful cemetery-turned classroom. I pray I won’t let these lessons be placed in the land of forgetfulness. I pray this also for you, and let me encourage you to go take a walk in a cemetery paying attention to the excellent teachers and lessons you will find there.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for always being my teacher showing me lessons to help me in my walk with You.
REFLECTION: Take a walk in a cemetery soon and let it become an important teacher in your life.