Let me preface what is to follow by saying that I believe in a practical Christianity--a faith that exists not behind cloistered doors in ivory towers, but rather in the real world. In fact, I would go so far as to use practicality as a litmus test for truth; if your doctrine doesn't work, then it isn't true. One of the myriad of issues with the Osteen-ish , 'Every Day a Friday', 'Your Best Life Now', 'name it and claim it' gobbledygook is that it doesn't work. It sells real well among the upwardly mobile in a big city in a rich country with access to clean water and food good and medicine, but try selling that snake oil to Christians in Sierra Leone or Haiti. It doesn't work, so it isn't true.
Now with all that in mind, lets take a look at Ecc 11:7-18. The Bible says "Truly the light is sweet , and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity."
As with most of the Bible, there is a lot packed in there, but I want to zero in on a very practical sentiment: the days of darkness are many and if you live long enough, you'll see your fair share. I don't know why that surprises people , after all Job already told you that "man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward". You and I were born into a broken world that has been in a constant downhill slide since our ancestors were forced out of the garden. There is plenty of sorrow and sadness to go around, and if you stick around, you'll get some to call your very own. Isn't that encouraging? Isn't that practical?
Look at the verse again. You might have missed it the first time. A man can rejoice in all his days, even the dark ones. It is possible, according to scripture, to not only 'stand' in the evil days, but to 'rejoice' in the dark days.
I saw this and I really started digging. I have had, and am still having, and still will have, some dark days, and if victory is possible , I want to find it. I think I found 4 areas where a man can rejoice even as the world crumbles around him, even as his mind turns on him, even as nothing goes right, even as his best days are behind him.
We'll start in Psalm 139:12, which says "Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." I know what it is to have dark days. I know what it's like to be discouraged and dismayed and frustrated. I know what its like to feel like I don't have a friend in the world. I know what its like to have no idea what to do next, or to even understand why things are happening. But you know something? God has never had a day like that. God acknowledges that some days are dark, but they are only dark to you. You , dear Christian, are not alone in the dark, and the One in there with you can see just fine. Somebody knows what going on, even if that somebody isn't you, and you can rejoice in that. You can ,in the midst of your misery, be glad in that.
Moving on to Psalm 31, we find, " I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God." Notice that the author (David) is, as the saying goes, in a 'world of hurt', physically spent and emotionally wrung out like an old rag. Every day is not a Friday , and he is not having his best life now. He sits there amidst his sorrow, alone, friendless--and rejoices in God's mercy.He rejoices that God knows his situation, and he acknowledges that it could be worse. That's a legitimate stand to take, and a legitimate way to rejoice in the dark.
Our next stop is Habakkuk 3:17-19, which says "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." Here we have a man having a very dark day. If we take the text at face value economic ruin and starvation aren't off the table. And 'yet' Habakkuk purposes that he will rejoice in the Lord. Why? Because (get ready for some deep theology) God is strong. He rejoices in God's ability and willingness to get involved in the struggles of His children, and because God is strong even when Habakkuk isn't, he knows someday he will walk out of this particular valley, and he rejoices in that.
We'll finish up in Psalm 119:161-162, which says "Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil." Once again, the author is not a person without problems. He is being persecuted, apparently by the government, but in the middle of that, he is able to rejoice, not in his circumstances, but in God's word. It doesn't make his problem go away , but it does give him confidence. He has the written revelation from the One who cannot lie, and to him it a treasure beyond compare. Through it, he is able to have the victory.
There you have it, folks. Four things. A lot more could be said about each of these points, but, what do you think?
