CVC is partnering with our school body’s pastors — and we asked our pastors to give us some encouraging words and a meditation on a scripture that lined up with our theme: Living God’s Story. This week, we invited Visalia’s Trinity URC’s Rev. Adrian Dieleman

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind … God is in heaven and you are on earth … Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiastes 1:14; 5:2; 12:13).

The Teacher of Ecclesiastes looks at life “under the sun,” a phrase that he repeats 29 times in the book.  He searches for meaning and fulfillment by the light of the sun.  He tries it all: wisdom; pleasures of women, wine, song; work, advancement, riches.  His conclusion: all of it is vanity, emptiness, meaningless.  If life is lived only under the sun, it is senseless.

There is also another approach, another perspective, on life.  Not only is there life “under the sun” but there also is life “under heaven,” an expression found 3 times in Ecclesiastes.  Life under heaven looks at life and lives life from the perspective of faith.  Life under heaven realizes what life under the sun forgets or neglects: that there is a sovereign Creator and Judge.

Life under heaven looks at life and lives life from the perspective of faith.

What is life under heaven like?  The teacher says it fears God and keeps His commandments.  Fear does not mean terror or fright.  Rather, it is the work of the Spirit in the heart of the regenerate.  The inner change of heart produces the outer life of obedience.  The fruit of those that fear God is obedience.  If you are not obedient, you do not fear God.  If you do not fear God, then you are not one of His covenant children.  The psalmist says, “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands” (Psalm 112:1).  Jesus says, “A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Mt 7:17).  If you have been changed at the root, you will produce works of obedience.

Want to send your children to a school where the word of God is used as a reference to live life to the fullest? Choose CVC: cvc.org/apply