So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,
Ecclesiastes 11:8 NET
but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many—all that is about to come is obscure.
And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Titus 3:7 NET
These two verses illustrate a significant difference between the Old Covenant and the New. And that concerns our expectation of what awaits us at the end of this life.
Under the Old Covenant, hope was primarily about what lay on this side of the grave. It was about land, kingdom, freedom, and temple. As you read through the Old Testament, you will not find many places that express much hope for what lies beyond the grave. And this is especially true in Ecclesiastes.
In the first verse quoted above, death is described as “days of darkness” that will continue forever. And what is about to come is obscure. The word the NET translates as obscure is hebel. The NIV translates this word as meaningless. It literally means breath, something without substance. This is a good description for Sheol, the place of the dead in the Old Testament, a place of a shadowy existence. And that is why Ecclesiastes encourages us to enjoy life while we can.
In contrast to the endless days of darkness with a shadowy existence is the confident expectation of eternal life we can have as believers in the Lord Jesus. We do not know all that awaits us on the other side of the grave. But we know it is better, and it is in the glorious presence of our Lord. It is something to look forward to.
In contrast to the Old Covenant, with its hope on this side of the grave, our hope is on the other side. In his resurrection, Jesus defeated death. And now, those who have put their hope and faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus can also look forward to victory over death and eternal life.
