A Belief
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
“A good name is better that perfumed oil
and the day of death better than the day of birth."
Ecclesiastes 7:1.
What the author is saying here is a good name is better than the most expensive perfumed oil. You can’t buy a good name. That’s why individuals must be careful not to tarnish their name by doing things that are morally wrong.
When the writer states “the day of death is better than the day or birth” all the commentaries indicate that this in not in reference to ones own death but the death of someone else. This is in line with what the next verse states,
“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2.
Later on in Ecclesiastes we read,
“The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:4.
All of these statements may seem odd at first glance but looked at from an eternal prospective it makes sense.
The death of anyone should prompt us to look at how fragile and how finite life is. Everyone who has ever been born will spend more time in eternity than they will spend in this life.
Thus the question becomes where will you spend eternity?
In the gospel of John we read this statement made by Jesus. Referring to Himself he states,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.
Thus the choice dear reader is your. Do you believe what is said here or not?
Please think about it.
