May 18, 2025 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

Apart from God everything is meaningless.  

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (AMP) 

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” 

The quest and the search for meaning and purpose of our existence has always been there since the beginning of time, that is, 'after the fall,' because before the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, everything was perfect and the only reason and meaning of and for their existence was for the glory God.  

Everything is in constant change, meaning and purpose is no exception. The philosopher, Heraclitus (c.540-480 B.C.), argued that "everything flows." Everything is in constant flux and movement, nothing is abiding. Therefore we "cannot step twice into the same river." When I step into the river for the second time, neither I nor the river are the same.  

(Sophie's World. A Novel About The History of Philosophy. Jostein Gaarder, .24) 

"Five times in this one verse the preacher used heḇel, the Hebrew word for “meaningless.” Four of those times are in a twofold repetition of a Hebrew superlative construction which the KJV renders “Vanity of vanities” and the NIV renders Meaningless! Meaningless! and Utterly meaningless!  The preacher used this metaphorical term throughout the book to refer to what is without real substance, value, permanence, significance, or meaning. Here at the outset he applied this to everything, by which he meant all human endeavors, as is obvious from verse 3 and his argument throughout the book." 

Donald R. Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 979. 

The only "constant" in this ever-changing world is God and His Word. This is the only source for a "purpose-full" and a "meaning-full" life. Life is to be is centred on God who created everything and who holds everything in His hands. 

Jesus said in John 10:10 :

"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (NASB) 

The word "abundantly" in the NT Greek is  περισσός perissos; has the meaning/idea of superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive; — exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, advantage, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, vehement(-ly). 

The very source of this 'abundant life,' that is, overwhelmingly a meaning-full & a purpose-full life ---  is Jesus Himself and Him only!  

Our existence is divinely and sovereignly intended to be meaningfully and purposefully lived for the glory of God only.