Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9 HCSB
Our church just had a new gym floor installed that is solid rubber and painted gray and purple. Today the workers painted the lines on the floor for basketball and volleyball. The lines exist to set some boundaries during play. If a player goes out of bounds or the ball lands out of bounds, there are consequences or penalties.
Solomon encouraged people to enjoy life while young, pursue desires of the heart, and to find pleasure through sight. One translation of the Bible says, “Take it all in”. But Solomon goes on to warn that there will be a day of judgment from God when each one must answer for his actions. Solomon’s directive was not a license to stray outside of God’s boundaries. When a person is outside of God’s will for his life, there will be consequences just as surely as exceeding the boundaries on a basketball court.
Challenge: Seek God and His will for your life; this is where you will find your purpose and meaning. Some think God’s boundaries are intended to spoil the fun in life. To the contrary, they are designed to give you a more enjoyable and abundant life. Read John 10:10. Following God’s plan keeps you from the troubles and pain associated with sin. His mandates will keep you safe and free from guilt. Living according to God’s plan will bring eternal peace and freedom.