Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
We were reminded during the weekend message that “we are most satisfied when we are satisfied in God.” Indeed, only Jesus truly satisfies our longing hearts. Until we are fully, truly, and deeply satisfied in Him, we will not be satisfied. After all, we were created to know Christ and to make Him known to everyone around us. Until we live for Him and Him alone, we will be empty, and life will feel meaningless. If we commit to being fully devoted followers of Christ, however, we will live rich, fully satisfied lives as we live the lives we were created to live.
Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon described his search for meaning and purpose from the things of this world. As he described his quest for purpose and meaning in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon explained that our hearts were never created to be satisfied from anything in this world. God “has planted eternity in the human heart,” Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3 (verse 11). Why do people set out on a quest to find purpose and meaning? They do this because we were all born knowing that we were not made for this world, but instead for eternity. As a result, this world will leave us feeling purposeless and meaningless.
In light of the truth that God “has planted eternity in the human heart,” we would be wise to live for the things that will have an eternal impact. Jesus warned listeners to live for the things of eternity, not this world, in Matthew 6, saying, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (verses 19-20). Why should we store up treasures in heaven and not on earth? We should store up treasures in heaven because the things of eternity will last forever. Unlike the things of the world that are fading away day by day, they will not corrode. They will not break down. They will not need to be replaced eventually. The things of eternity will last forever.
We have a choice to make today friends. We can either live for the things of this earth, or we can choose wisdom and live for the things of eternity. If we live for this earth, we will end up like Solomon on his quest for meaning and purpose: unsatisfied. After all, this world is fading away. If we live for the things of eternity, we will be fully satisfied in Christ, knowing that we are living for what will last forever.
What would it look like for you today to live for eternity instead of this world? Maybe you will focus on spending time with God or sharing your faith with someone else. Maybe you will practice generosity toward someone in need. Whatever it looks like for you, commit to living for eternity, not this world. Remember, the things of the world are fading away, but the things of eternity will last forever.
“God, as I set to leave behind the things of this world for Your eternal kingdom, search me…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
©2026 Sagebrush Church
