"He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
God has painted time with changes. The kaleidoscopic movement of innumerable processes will be seen in the end as “beautiful in its time.” It may look a mess up close, just as putting your face too near a big painting will distort your view of it. Stepping back puts it in better perspective. One day we will step back, look at the finished canvas of life with the Artist by our side, and see it in all its beauty and completeness.
The same thought inspired some unknown author to write:
Not till the loom is silent,
And the shuttle ceases to fly
Will God unveil the canvas,
And show the reason why
The black threads were as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 goes on to say, “Also He has put eternity in their hearts.” People who have a world view from a worldly perspective will fail to see beauty in black threads. All will be meaningless to them.
But for those of us who have eternity in our hearts, it is another matter. We are lent faith to believe that “…every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor – it is the gift of God” (Ecc. 3:12). And, it is the grace of God that will enable us to leave the explanations of the dark threads till heaven. This faith will help us “…to rejoice, and to do good in [our] lives” (Ecc. 3:12).
To everything there is a season; a time for this and a time for that. There is a time to ask God to put eternity in your heart – now! Ask Him.
