The Singapore developer of an extravagant condominium advertised
its new project as, “Rediscover Heaven on Earth.” I suppose it
meant to convey to prospective buyers that their purchase would
be so luxurious that it would be like living in heaven while
here on earth.
Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, was an extremely wealthy
man (Eccl. 1:12). He tried to find heaven on earth and had the
means to live as luxuriously as he could wish (2:1-10). Yet he
wasn’t satisfied. So disillusioned was he with life, he
described it with just one word—“vanity” (or “meaningless”). And
he repeated the word eight times in chapter two alone. As long
as he looked only at life “under the sun” (2:18), he felt hollow
and dissatisfied. All of his striving was ultimately futile.
There would come a day when he would have to relinquish his
possessions and leave them to someone else (v.18).
If you are a Christian, you can look to Christ’s promise of a
heavenly home He has gone to prepare (John 14:2). That’s why
Paul advised those who are enjoying what God has given: “Set
your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col.
3:2). Don’t try to find heaven on earth. You won’t—no matter how
hard you look! — C.
P. Hia
Lightly hold earth’s joys so transient,
Loosely cling to things of clay,
Grasp perfections everlasting,
Where Christ dwells in heaven’s day! —Bosch
Those who have their hearts fixed on heaven will hold
loosely the things of earth.