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The Story:The history of philosophy is the record of the best thoughts of mainly unbelieving thinkers being rejected by the generation that succeeds them, which has its own views rejected by those who follow after. “Under the sun” people can’t figure out the scheme of things with any kind of lasting satisfaction. God will not allow them to because they have turned away from Him. Solomon is warning Rehoboam that, if he persists on his tack of sailing against the Wind of God, he will only end up frustrated, defeated, and dead. This is how God responds to those who insist they do not need His advice or instruction. God’s ways are mysterious, and they do not make sense to unbelieving men. But “under the heavens” we can know that God is wise, good, sovereign, loving, and just. He does all things well – everything in its place (Eccl. 3). Our calling is not to be able to know everything, or to figure everything out, but to trust in Him and let His Wind blow us where He will.
The Structure:We are witnessing in our day the supplanting of one philosophical era – modernism – by another – postmodernism (and even postmodernism is now considered by many to be blasé). This is an age of uncertainty and confusion because old beliefs are being rejected while the new ones have not yet worked out the answers – and never will. Postmodernism will be rejected in its turn. Meanwhile, the Church continues preaching and teaching the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Believers rest in God and His truth and know peace, joy, contentment, industry, fruitfulness, and blessedness. We do not pretend to know all the answers, but we know Him Who does. Trusting in Him and resting in His Word we live above the philosophical debates of the day – not unmindful of them, nor uninvolved, simply unaffected in any way that threatens our peace and wellbeing, or that distracts us from living for our King and His Kingdom.
Where do your unbelieving friends look to find the answers that perplex them? Why not ask? Do these sources and authorities bring them peace?
Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “In Your Face: Ecclesiastes 8,” simply click here.
T. M. Moore
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved