That’s a good question! We look around the world today and all we see is injustice. It makes no difference what political party you favor. Injustice is still injustice. Some people see injustice and speak out on social media. Others take to the streets in protest. A few will rise up and run for government office claiming that they can make things right. Nevertheless, where’s God in all this? Is He really still in control?
Solomon covers this in the next chapter. Let’s dig in….
Ecclesiastes 8
How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things.
Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
softening its harshness.
Obedience to the King
2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. 4 His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. 5 Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.
7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen? 8 None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked.
The Wicked and the Righteous
9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. 11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.
14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!
15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.
16 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.
Ecclesiastes 8 NLT
History Repeats Itself!
This was written c. 937 BC. It describes today. Lawlessness abounds. Bad people are committing whatever crime they feel like doing, and not facing the consequences. In certain cities, you can get away with stealing items under $700 and they won’t prosecute you. A store owner can only just watch merchandise literally walk out the door. When lawbreakers don’t see consequences right away, they get bold. They think they got away with it.
Last year, rioters broke into stores, stole stuff, then burned them down and no one got prosecuted. “They were ‘peaceful protestors,'” the government leaders said.
Reality is that these are the end times and, though Satan is the prince of the world, God still is in control.
Paul wrote to Timothy…
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
That is wise advice! Stay away from people like that!
Peter wrote…
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT
How do you do that? Stand strong in your faith?
First, realize that we are not in control of when we live or die — God is. A person reaps whatever he or she sows. Sometimes, the harvest isn’t immediate. Whether you’re reaping good or bad, God knows and it will all come out on Judgement Day.
Justice will not be complete on earth until Jesus comes back to establish His Kingdom. In the meantime, He’s given us a task — to spread His Good News all over the world and make disciples. He also wants us to enjoy life — work, family and the beauty of the world.
Paul wrote…
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 nLT
See, there’s nothing wrong with that. Here are other things we can do…
- Put on the Full Armor of God
- Pray
- Read the Bible Daily — the best way to get to know God.
- Go to to a Bible-believing church that preaches the true, Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Follow these Bible Prophecy Teachers.
- Be careful what you watch or listen to.
- Trust in God Alone! Don’t trust in governments or anything of this world!
- Remember what Jesus told us….
33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT
When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Personal Lord and Savior, we become overcommers! We will defy death just like Jesus did and have eternal life in Heaven!
