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Ecclesiastes 7:

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  • What if…someone dying “early” guarantees their eternity with God. What if a longer life would have led to them rejecting the faith and missing God’s grace? Only God knows…
  • What if…”hardship” is instead a desirable difficulty (like weight training) to prepare the individual for something great in the future? i.e. Joseph being unjustly treated by his brothers and Potiphar…read what he tells his brothers later; David spending years on the run from Saul in the wilderness; take your pick of biblical heroes. Hardship is part of the classical “heroes journey” which is why everyone admires it but so few are willing to submit to and endure it-it’s a form of romanticism…
  • What if…the “early” death of a “righteous” man will inspire others to turn to God? I wonder what impact Stephen’s death may have had on Saul as he held the coats…for goodness’ sake-Jesus’ example. He died at 33 (ish) and look at the impact that’s had…
  • What if…God simply decides for (insert God’s own reasons here) it’s time for that person to die? Why are you overly concerned about it (not to be callous or uncaring)…what is your personal stake in this matter that you choose not to accept it? You do understand your time is now one day closer than it was yesterday-right? Perhaps we should spend less time worried about what’s happening in the world (yes, it is important) and more time making sure our “house” is in order for when (not “if”) our time comes…
  • I’m sure there are other reasons (too many to list here). When you think of them, give them some honest thought.
  • Psalm 98:3, Isaiah 45:22, 1 Timothy 2:4: all allude to God’s desire for everyone to be in a right relationship with Him. Everyone without exception traces back through Adam (the son of God). God does not want any of his children to be lost.
  • What if…God gives a long life to a “wicked” person to maximize the time they have to repent? What if this will be a topic of discussion on Judgment Day? “You thought you didn’t need me.” “Remember that time (insert blessing here that changed the course of their financial future for the better) and look how long I protected you to give you time to turn to me.” “Why didn’t you?” What will they say? This dynamic is loosely alluded to in Ezekiel 36: 31-38 where God says he will bless Israel after they come back from exile so that they will look back on their sinful behavior and be ashamed because of his grace/ generosity.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10 makes reference to God intentionally moving against those who do not love the Truth and hardening them in that position for the purpose of their destruction. What if…the individual is so corrupt they’re irredeemable. Being affluent or “blessed” they’ll have no reason (in their mind) to acknowledge a need for change. As such their fate will be sealed. What if this is God’s desire for this person so he can maximize his wrath against them on Judgment Day when he avenges Himself (avenge-to repay injury for injury)?
  • What if the masses, seeing someone who is wealthy and living in a completely corrupt manner inspires them to make changes to propagate justice in that society or to be courageous and live a righteous example and call others to do the same because of the evil they witness?
  • Again, there are too many to list. When you think of them, give them some honest thought.