There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. — Ecclesiastes 1:11
How do you find meaning in a meaningless world?
Speaking as a man, I know that I have wanted to leave my mark on this world, to make a difference. I started out wanting to be a great preacher, or a great evangelist, or a great educator. Instead, I worked as a bus driver and a janitor. I wanted to be a famous author. (I always wanted to write something groundbreaking like JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, but, when I wrote, it ended up sounding more like Thurber than like Tolkein.) I wanted to be a successful entrepreneur, but I’ve lost everything several times.
I’ve never had a Mount Carmel. I’ve never stood with Elijah and called down fire from heaven. But I’ve certainly fled with him to Mount Horeb, and hidden in a cave, and asked, "What’s wrong with life? Why doesn’t it work?"
This verse is pretty clear. I looked in the wrong place.
Somewhere in the cave I found Someone who listens to me, and Someone who remembers me. Wave after wave of generations will rise and fall, but you can’t build a lasting castle from that water.
No, we won’t be remembered here. Most of us won’t even make the radar screen. But we are connected with Something or rather Someone who doesn’t need fame or money or influence to validate you. The ring, the robe, the white stone — they are all waiting for us someplace else.
Meanwhile, we hear a different voice than all the rest. They may climb all over each other searching for significance. We’ve already found it.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.