Everybody’s life is an enigma existence. A moment’s choice for me now is later a contradiction of ethics, morality, and reason by a new choice made under the same situation. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (1). My reason for doing something now will be the reason I do the opposite tomorrow.
Though time is mentioned 15 times in these verses it is not the subject. Time is the device I use to explain, reason, and justify conflicting decisions and actions. Everyone is capable of every righteous and evil act ever implemented by those before in the time we have been allotted to live “under heaven”.
The person who lives “under heaven”, that is apart from God and his ways makes their own moral anchors. They give themselves ethical guidelines to help themselves in decision-making.
One person’s ethical mantra will be to acquire wealth while another’s will be to do everything for family and/or children. The first person will plant only if the profit justifies the risk, whereas the second will plant if the family and children are hungry (1).
One person’s ethical mantra will be to stay sober while another’s will be to receive the acclaim and adoration of everyone. The first person may kill if someone continually manipulates them back into their addiction, whereas the second will kill if somone is about to reveal a dark secret that will bring disgrace and public shame (3).
The principle here can be applied to all fourteen conflicting life events listed in these verses.
Here then are two enigmas of human existence; a decision and action complimented today will need to be self-justified when repeated later, and moral rules made “under heaven” will find a reason to do anything given the right circumstances.
Quoting Elijah, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) And quoting Joshua, “Choses for yourself who you will serve this day… As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) Make your own life rules or follow the Holy Spirit.
