The concept of time has always been a fascinating subject of study for man. We are mesmerized by its inescapable velocity with which it travels during our lives. Although the sands of time never stop pouring, man has yet to give up on his hope for freezing time on a permanent basis. Ironically, perhaps what makes the concept of time so seductive is the challenge of wanting to stop it from moving forward. Truly, time is a fascinating, sophisticated tool that can only be appropriately used by the hands of the Omniscient God as illustrated by the Koheleth (Hebrew word for preacher). One must wonder about the wisdom behind the purpose of an eternal God placing a timely limit on His beloved creation. However, to begin to fathom the depth of this divine teaching, it is obligatory to understand that man was originally created to be an eternal creature. Let us recall the words of Jehovah God to man in Eden to prove this bold statement: “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die‘” (Genesis 2:16-17). Before this ominous warning, the author of this book reveals that “the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden” but man was not prohibited to eat from it (Genesis 2:9). In His commandment, God established that Adam was allowed to take fruit and eat freely from every tree (this includes the tree of life) except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was only when man disobeyed God’s commandment that two things took place: 1. Death (man’s expiration date) was introduced in to the world (Romans 5:12) and 2. Man lost his privilege to eat from the tree of life as a consequence of his disobedience (Genesis 3:22-24). Having firmly established this undeniable divine truth, it is also made manifest Who controls both life and death. It is with this understanding in his mind that the Koheleth begins to unravel the enigma of time (Ecclesiastes 3). In his quest of understanding life under the sun, the author of Ecclesiastes arrives to the inquiry of time’s purpose under the sun. He begins to answer this question by establishing that “to everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Thus, a list of antithetic truths are recorded in his analysis: life and death, planting and reaping, weeping and laughing, etc. Several times this passage is commonly used to encourage folks to better balance their time management. However, using this application is misunderstanding Koheleth’s true purpose and therefore taking the text outside of its direct context. Once more, let us not ignore the antithetical list that has been provided by the inspired author. Let us bring to memory that an antithesis is a juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical structures (The American Heritage Dictionary, p. 38). Therefore, the purpose for the use of this literary tool is to illustrate God’s infinite power ever present in our finite lives. Solomon begins his understanding of time by acknowledging God’s control of it. He expertly enlightens God being in perfect control of man’s time by providing opposing events in which man has no power or control over. What he is teaching us is that man is very limited in how to control his time under the sun. Just like he cannot decide when to be born in to this world, he can neither decide when to die and leave this world. Both, life and death, are in the hands of God; thus proving that time can only be properly used by Him. Having this knowledge imparted to man by God makes any human attempt to take time from Him futile. Yet, the Koheleth also makes an interesting comment regarding eternity (the absence of time). As he continues to meditate about this subject, he reaches the following conclusion: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This astonishing manifestation from Solomon is truly difficult to understand entirely without the immediate context he has already provided. Remember that he begins his thought process by accepting that God is Who is in control of humanity’s time while on earth. It was this series of antithetical statements that drove him toward the ability to see God’s mighty hand in our daily lives, but it is also this true sight that aided him in understanding God’s use of time for man. Although it is true that man brought upon himself the limit of his life here on earth, it is still true that God’s plan was and still is for man to live with Him eternally. We know this to be true because Jehovah “gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). In His omniscience, God foresaw the fall of man in the garden of Eden and therefore established His plan of salvation in eternity (Ephesians 1:3-6). However, the connection that Solomon makes has to do with man, here under the sun. Observe the location where God places His eternity: “He has put eternity in their hearts.” How has God placed the concept of eternity in the hearts of man? The Hebrew word used by Koheleth for eternity is olam and according to Thayer and Strong it refers to ancient time, long time (of past) or (of future) everlasting, indefinite or unending future (Strong, H5769). In layman’s terms, it is a sophisticated way of showing the use of man’s mind in regards to time. What Solomon discovered is that man can use his understanding of time to try and understand the concept of eternity. Notice that olam is immeasurable either backward or forward. It is concealed because man was not able to control his past nor is he able to control his future. However, in his mind man is able to look backward or forward. We commonly practice this when we use our memory to recall an event from the past to determine a decision concerning our future. This is what Solomon refers to as God placing eternity in our hearts. The purpose of time, according to the Koheleth, is to make man aware of God’s eternity and to look forward to it. Hence the purpose of God establishing His law in the mind of man (Jeremiah 31:33). The lesson that we are provided by the Koheleth is the same solution that man desperately seeks of attempting to stop time. Keeping God’s word ever present in our hearts, is the only way man will be able to enjoy God’s eternity one day.
