"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2 KJV)
"God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21 NLT)
To help see the Good News that is somehow coming from this, I thought it best to try and explain what it is that I see coming forth from these three illustrations, or illusions, depending upon your frame of mind. Much like the illustration from when Elisha caused the ax-head to float, there is something here to make a case for an illustration of being born again.
It's really not that hard to see, but it does take a little imagination and awareness. The first indication of what must be done, is to be humble, which is the reason it is better to go to the house of mourning, than the house of feasting. When we are going to be saved, it counts when we are sorry for the sins that we have done; which should lead to the act of repentance, when we realize that we need to be saved, and need to turn from our sins.
There is really no better place that we can be, than when we are surrendering our lives to the Lord; whether it is when we first got saved, or when we need to be restored and put back on the right path. Which then makes the second part become more apparent, "for that is the end of all men". Before we can actually be born anew, there must be death! Not a physical death, but the fleshly passions and desires must be put to death, and the life of the Spirit needs to come to life.
Without getting carried away, the word 'men' is that of common sort, of which we are not! Once we have given our lives to Christ, we have become a new creation in Christ, the old common man, which was patterned after the fallen Adam, is no more; there is a new creation, which is reunited with the Father, and is no longer common, but is a saint, free from sin!
We were born in sin and bound to the penalty of sin, which is death; but we have been born again free from sin, and now we are bound to Christ, forever and ever! Which opens up the last part of this, so called illustration: "and the living will lay it to his heart". We are alive! Once we were dead, totally separated from God, and destined to damnation; now we are alive, united with God, and given eternal life!
That is what it's all about! There is nothing better than this gift we have been given, and we must take it to heart! It is not just about what you know, based upon what you think: We must take it to heart; Jesus must be in our hearts, not just in our minds! There must be a loving relationship...
""I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."" (John 15:9-14 NLT)
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