Chasing the Wind

Powerful winds can quickly whip the sea into a beautiful but terrifying, pounding fury, but regardless of how much we feel, utilize, or struggle against these blowing gales, we cannot grasp the wind. It slips through our fingers.

Following a long life of adventure, ideas, pleasures, and “things,” powerful King Solomon used the imagery of “chasing” or “striving after” the wind to illustrate the futility of many of life’s pursuits. (Ecclesiastes). Although renowned for his intellect, wisdom, and wealth, he perceived he had not fully grasped the overarching meaning and purpose to life.

Eventually concluding that life is meant to be enjoyed but is truly meaningful only when lived in relationship with its Creator, he saw that all human interests and endeavors are ultimately unfulfilling and inconsequential when God’s intended plans for our good are ignored. So, he urged others to build life around a relationship with God and His principles for living. He said that honoring God and living according to His moral plan are imperatives meant for mankind’s good. Therefore, he reminded his youthful readers to not waste their lives: “Remember now Your Creator in the days of your youth…”

Jesus also taught the importance of orienting our physical energies and spiritual lives toward an eternal perspective. He spoke of seeking “first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” and to not lay up treasures on earth…”but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:33; 19-21).

Latching onto ideas and endeavors which exclude God and His good purposes is “striving after the wind” because there is no enduring substance to them. But one can live with an eternal perspective and meaning. God’s Kingdom “ways” are discovered through the intents of the moral law and Christ’s teachings. But the “Way” to the Kingdom is found through trusting in Christ, who as the perfect fulfillment of the law became the holy payment for our moral failures, our sins, when he died on the cross. Scripture clearly states that it is Christ’s righteousness not ours that is redemptive: “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:4-5). So, redemption and righteousness come to us through trusting Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Life quickly slips through our fingers while we struggle with defining our purpose. The Westminster catechism states: The chief end of man is “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” When we don’t do that, when we become sidetracked, when we don’t acknowledge God and His good desires for us, when we ignore His redemptive gift, when we live lives without love and gratitude for Him, then we minimize ourselves and jeopardize our future. We are just chasing the wind.