Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
During this ‘Daunting Time’ of the outbreak of the Covid-19 Corona Virus, Quarantining, Worldwide Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and the ‘Fear of the Unknown’… the phrase “A Time to Refrain from Embracing” was impressed upon me to write about. God tells us in His Holy Word that there is a time for every purpose under Heaven. Oftentimes, we do not understand why God allows certain things to happen; nonetheless, God is God, and we are not. It is not for us to know or to understand; it is for us to Submit and to Trust in His Sovereignty and Wisdom. Only He can see the ‘End from the Beginning,’ and only He knows what is for the Best. We, in our ‘limited and finite state,’ obviously do not know a lot of things, much less what is for the ‘Best.’
From Biblehub.com: “Commentaries Ecclesiastes 3:5”
Gill’s Exposition: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing: or “to be far from” all which is very proper and agreeable at times: but there are some seasons so very calamitous and distressing, in which persons are obliged to drop such fondnesses: it is true, in a spiritual sense, of the embraces of Christ and believers, which sometimes are, and sometimes are not, enjoyed. Proverbs 4:8. – Source
During times like these, it is hard to tell what is ‘real or true’ and what is not. There has been so much misinformation, conflicting reports, falsehood, and downright lies concerning this virus and the consequential shut down of our Economy. It is hard not to perceive this outbreak as a ‘Political Stunt by the Powers that Be’ to overinflate the death count and number of cases. Not to mention the ‘Incessant Fearmongering’ of society at large, and the inevitable ‘Overarching Goal’ to crash America’s Economy by bringing her to her knees for the sake of the ‘Globalists’ Utopian Socialist Agenda.’
Now more than ever, it is ‘A Time to Refrain’ not only from touching, hugging, and shaking hands but, more importantly, from Worldliness, Ungodliness, and Unrighteousness. It is a time to Refrain, Reflect, Repent, and Relent from the ways of this fallen world. For this world and all its lusts are passing away. Behold, there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth! Yes, the Bible tells us that everything we see here will be burned up, dissolved, melted by fervent heat, and utterly consumed by fire! Knowing this, what manner of persons ought we to be in Righteousness and Holiness?
2 Peter 3:11-13 “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
What manner of persons ought we to be? If one is Wise, they will want to heed Wisdom and Instruction and forsake Foolishness and Folly. The (Reverential Fear) of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. It is a healthy fear (Respect) for God, His Ways, and His Word. When we fear something, we either run from it or submit to it. ‘Reverential Fear’ is shown by our Love in ‘Obeying, Submitting, and Practicing’ what God tells us to do in His Holy Word. Do we have the ‘Fear of the Lord’ in us? The book of Proverbs has a lot to say on the topic of Wisdom that comes from God.
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 2:2-7 “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
Charles Spurgeon Study Bible Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:8
3:8 “A time to love, and a time to hate.” This chapter gives an accurate summary of how most of our lives are spent. Ours is a checkered life. We are not long in any one state, and we quickly change from one condition to another – which is sometimes better, but sometimes worse. But let us never forget that eternal council chamber where Christ undertook to be our surety and substitute and, in due time, to die for us. It was with Christ, “a time to love.”
Now may our thoughts fly onward to that period when the fullness of time for the birth of Christ had come. Will Christ leave his throne, his Father’s house, the company of the holy angels and “and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:23)? Yes, for it is with him now, once again, “a time to love.” Having become incarnate and having come to live on earth, it was absolutely necessary that a perfect righteousness should be worked out on behalf of his people. But in such a wicked world as this, it could only be accomplished through shame, reproach, rebuke, and slander of the most abominable kind. Did he endure all that? Yes, he did, for it was with him, “a time to love.”
But has Christ ceased to love us now? Oh, no, for every day and every moment is with him, “a time to love.” Then, in due time, the resurrection will come, and amid the splendors of that long looked-for day, the great King, stepping down from his throne, will meet his spouse, his church, and clothing her with his own glory, will take her up to sit with him on his throne, and then, indeed, it will be with him, “a time to love.”
I cannot comprehend how it is that some of us are so cold towards the Lord Jesus Christ. How is it that we can, even for a moment, tolerate that wicked, diabolical Laodicean lukewarmness towards him whose love is like a flaming fire? Come, Holy Spirit, give us coals of juniper! No, give us of your own divine sacred fire. Then it will indeed be with us, “a time to love.” – End Source
One day, and very soon, we will be able to ‘unrefrain’ from embracing and be able to finally ‘truly embrace’ one another like we never have before! The Bible says that in the presence of the Lord there is Fullness of Joy! We will be in a Glorious Place where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain because the old order of things will be passed away! The Bible calls the troubles in our lives ‘light and momentary’ and that they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all! Our sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that will be revealed in us!
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Until next time… Maranatha!
(JESUS = THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE)
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Candy Austin is an Ambassador for Christ, a Beloved Wife to her Beloved Husband Doug, a Freelance Sign Language Interpreter, a PTSD Survivor, a Writer for Rapture Ready, a Bible Prophecy Student Anxiously Awaiting Our Blessed Hope, a Mother of 2 Precious Prodigal Daughters (26 & 21 years old), a Cat Mom to Harley 11 and Dallas 8, a Child of God who is Blessed Beyond Measure!