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                       "THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                          Concluding Thoughts

People have often searched for the meaning of life.  From philosopher to
the common man they have asked questions like: "Why am I here?" or "What
is my purpose for life?"

Presuming there is no God nor life after death, many have concluded
there is no purpose for living, and fallen into despair or hedonism. 
But a search that begins with wrong assumptions invariably leads to
wrong conclusions.  If what we see in this life is all there is, then
truly "vanity of vanities, all is vanity!"

The Preacher, with his personal experiences and God-given wisdom, has
demonstrated that, yes, life from an earthly perspective alone ("life
under the sun") is truly vanity!  But he has also declared that by
fearing God and keeping His commandments one can endure the many
vanities and perplexities of life, all the while enjoying the good
things in life that God give us!  As expressed by the Preacher himself:

   "What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have
   seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be
   occupied."

   "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."

   "I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to
   do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and
   drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God."

                                       Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

May we like the Preacher, then, continue to seek out "acceptable words",
"words of truth" (12:10) that will serve as goads to direct us, and as
well-driven nails with which to build our lives.

Especially those truths from Jesus, who has come and spoken words
designed to help us weather the storms of life:

   "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
   I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:"

   "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and
   beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on
   the rock."
                                       Matthew 7:24-25

With the help of the Preacher and the Savior, we can find meaning and
hope in this vain world in which we live!

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