A Common Destiny for All…Yet a Very Different Eternity

A Common Destiny for All…Yet a Very Different Eternity


How precious is life to you? Do you take your life for granted? Do you thank God for every single breath you have? These questions have become real to me once again over the last few weeks. I have been reminded how fragile life really is. From news of children fighting for life, some children even losing their lives, to adults losing a quality of life because of illness, I once again have taken a look at what I feel about life and death. We all have been told that life is precious and fragile; but, do we really take that seriously? What does God’s word have to say about life and death?

The author of Ecclesiastes takes a unique look at this question. The theme of Ecclesiastes is that life is meaningless apart from God. According to Ecclesiastes chapter 9, whether we are good or bad, we all share a common destiny. “As it is with good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them (v. 2b).” If this is so, then why are we surprised when bad things happen to good people? According to this passage, we should not expect anything different for ourselves. Life is full of highs and lows for those who know Christ and those who do not know Christ. As George often says, “One out of one dies.” Sounds encouraging, right? Well, if you just look at the surface of all these statements, no it doesn’t. But if we look at it through the lens of Christ, we can find encouragement and hope where there seems to be none. It is always amazing to me to be able to take a different look at my circumstances and find the silver lining in the dark clouds. In verse 4 of chapter 9, we are reminded that “anyone who is among the living has hope.” “For the living know that they will die but the dead know nothing (vs. 5).” We, as believers in Christ, are among the living, and those who do not know Christ are among the dead who “have no further reward.” We may all have a common destiny, but we have the choice to have a very different eternity. Eternal life gives us the hope that this life, though very precious, is only what we must go through to receive our eternal reward. Therefore, live it well and share this hope you have with everyone so that they too, may have a future in Heaven for sure!

Attempting to make my life pleasing to the Father,
Aaron Hodges