I’ve always liked the daytime better than the nighttime. Light provides some security, comfort and stability. Darkness creates doubt and insecurity. Walking in the light is easy; walking at night is difficult. In Ecclesiastes 11:7, Solomon noted that light is “pleasant.” He was talking about the joy of life. The dead do not see the light of day. They cannot use their “eyes to see the sun.” Therefore, all should have the glad to be alive attitude. This attitude teaches us that we should live life as follows.
First, we should live life optimistically. Are we glad to be alive? Do we wake up each morning and thank the Lord for another day that we can “see the sun”? When one starts each day with pessimism, he will only see the bad. He will fail to see and enjoy God’s wonderful gifts. The pessimist doesn’t “see the sun” and fails to find any pleasantness in the light.
Second, we should live life opportunistically. Earlier, Solomon had noted that death ends all opportunity (Ecclesiastes 9:4-7, 10). Each day, we should “seize the moment” and do good (Galatians 6:10). When your eyes see the sun, it means another day has been given to you. This means another day to work, “for the night is coming when no man can work” (John 9:4).
Third, we should live life obediently. Each new day is also a new day to serve God. Solomon recognized that those who fail to fear God will face God’s judgment (Ecclesiastes 8:11; 11:9; 12:13-14). God gives us the gift of life so that we might serve Him (Ephesians 2:10). He gives us time so that we might repent of sin and follow Him (2 Peter 3:9-15).
Yes, light is pleasant, and it is good to see the sun. May each of us take each new day and live it optimistically, opportunistically and obediently.
