Before and After Christ
W. Clarkson Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them… These words have a strange sound in our ears; they evidently do not belong to New Testament times. They bring before us - I. MAN'S UNENLIGHTENED CONCEPTION OF HIMSELF. It is evidently possible that, under certain conditions, men may judge themselves to be of no nobler nature than that of "the beasts that perish." It may be (1) bodily suffering or weakness; or (2) untoward and disappointing circumstances; or (3) bewilderment of mind after vain endeavors to solve great spiritual problems; or (4) the distracted and unnatural state of the society in which we are placed (see Cox's 'Quest of the Chief Good'); but, owing to some one of many possible causes, men may be driven to take the lowest view of human nature; so much so that they may lose all respect for themselves - may shut the future life entirely out of view, and live in the narrow circle of the present; may confine their ambition and aspiration to bodily enjoyment and the excitements of present occupation; may practically own themselves to be defeated, and go blindly on, 'hoping nothing, believing nothing, and fearing nothing." Such a melancholy conclusion (1) does us sad dishonor; (2) has a demoralizing influence on character and life; (3) yields a wretched harvest of despair and self-destruction. In most happy contrast with this is - II. THE VIEW OF OUR NATURE WHICH CHRIST HAS GIVEN US. He asks us to think how "much a man is better than a sheep," and reminds us that we are "of more value than many sparrows." He bids us realize that one human soul is worth more than "the whole world," and that there is nothing so costly that it will represent its value. He reveals to us the supreme and most blessed fact that each human spirit is the object of Divine solicitude, and may find a home in the Father's heart of love at once, and in his nearer presence soon. He assures us that there is a glorious future before every man that becomes the subject of his kingdom, and serves faithfully to the end. Under his teaching, instead of seeing that "they themselves are beasts," his disciples find themselves "children of their Father who is in heaven," "kings and priests unto God," "heirs of eternal life." Coming after Christ, and learning of him, we see that we are capable of a noble heritage now, and move toward a still nobler estate a little further on. - C. Parallel Verses KJV: I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. WEB: I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.