Reruns

Reruns

Q: What does the book of Ecclesiastes say repeats itself?

• a. history
• b. prophecy
• c. a teacher

There are many quotes about history repeating itself, but the original one is found in Ecclesiastes. Solomon writes, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”

This verse isn’t talking about the new technology that people invent, although those things were known all along to God. It’s referring to life and the things in nature that repeat. The sun rises and sets just as it has done for thousands of years. The seasons repeat—winter, spring, summer, fall—year after year. Planets orbit, and the earth rotates. People are born, they live, and they die. But thank God, that’s not the end. For Christians, death is the beginning of life in heaven.

There is also no new source of satisfaction in life. It’s impossible to find happiness and fulfillment in different forms of pleasure. Solomon says, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.” Buying more things, going more places, and trying new things are empty without God.

The one thing that gives meaning to life is a relationship with God. Video game systems and games, DVDs, televisions, smartphones, and other things only provide temporary happiness. They can be broken or stolen. The fun wears off. Friends may make you happy, but they can fail you. They may drop you for a new friend or hurt you. Jesus is the one you can count on to be with you all the time and to never change. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have fun things and friends to share them with. That’s just not the true source of happiness. Look to God first, and the rest will fall into place.

For You

If you’re feeling unhappy, make sure you are taking time to work on your personal relationship with God. It might be that other things have gotten in the way of that relationship.

Answer: a

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.   Ecclesiastes 1:9

(The Whole Story: Ecclesiastes 1)