Facts Of Life

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Facts Of Life

 

INTRODUCTION:

1.     Read Eccl. 3:1-22

2.     Regarding Text:

(1)         Ecclesiastes = preacher (Hebrew - Koheleth).

(2)         It is not difficult to put oneself in the shoes of the writer, we can feel his frustration.

(3)         Key verse of entire book = “Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity! (Eccl. 1:2).

(4)         Eccl. 1:3 = “What profit has a man from all his labor, in which he toils under the sun?

A.       In other words – is this all there is?

B.       In other words – what profit is there from a physical perspective?

C.       In other words – what value is there in all our labor, if/when we fail to take into consideration God’s will for us.

(5)         In our text, Solomon is expressing how he reached the conclusion – Vanity of vanities!

A.       All things serve the purpose of God (3:1-8) – “To everything there is a season…”

B.       God set this all in motion, that men should fear before Him” (3:14).

3.     Consider, all this (i.e. life) is set in motion to serve God’s purpose, but we are not

DISCUSSION: Read:  Eccl. 9:5

I.         The Living Know That They Will Die.

1.      “As one dies, so dies the other; indeed they all have the same breath (Eccl. 3:19)

(1)           We come from the same dust.

(2)           We are animated by the same life breath.

(3)           We both return to the dust from whence we came.

2.      Psa. 49:12.

3.      If this is the end of things.  If physical life is best we hope for…

(1)           Then physical life is of no possible advantage to us.

(2)            

4.      We know we are going to die, but we are able to put it into context.

(1)           Heb. 9:27; Rom. 5:12; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 14:12.

(2)           Life serves a purpose.

II.      The Dead Don’t Know Anything.

1.      For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them…” (3:19).

(1)           We have “no preeminence above the beasts” (ASV).

(2)           If we are nothing more than physical beings… when we die… we are dead all over.

(3)           If this be the case, then a case could be made for complete randomness of exist.

A.          BUT, there is great design and order in the universe.

B.          There is great order and design evident in all aspects of our existence.

2.      God be thanked that we are far more than flesh and bones (conglomeration).

3.      No, animals are not made in the likeness of God, but we are (Gen. 1:26-27).

(1)           Zech. 12:1; Jn. 4:24; Lk. 24:39.

(2)           We have an immortal spirit within us (cf. soul).    (Mt. 10:28;  Jn. 4:24).

4.      Bible shows that even after our body dies… WE WILL KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON (Lk. 9:31; Lk. 16:19-31).

5.      If the grave was the end of the story for us… (Eccl. 9:10).

6.      But, God has so much more in store for us (faithful AND unfaithful).

III.   Matters Will Never Get Better… Only Worse!

1.      Read Eccl. 5:18-19;   9:5-9.

2.      If this physical life is all that is offered, there is some merit to it; some enjoyment to be found; some pleasure worth enjoying… BUT

(1)           According to such a view… a dead man has no more reward.  Cf. “under the sun”

(2)           According to such a view, the grave not only swallows up the body, but all HOPE!

3.      BUT, if there is something / Someone – “Beyond the sun…” (Spiritual realm

(1)           We will go where God lives.

(2)           The righteous dead will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished.

(3)           Reward eternally     OR  punishment continually / eternally.

4.      God’s promises are not made to our bodies / dead bodies, but to our spirits!

5.       

IV.    We Won’t Be Remembered.  The memory of them is forgotten!

1.      We can’t keep up with each other’s names and memory while the others live, what makes us think we can with those who pass from our view.

(1)           Cf. all those who have died in this congregation alone during the past 15 years.

(2)           Dare say, you could not sit and name them all.  Probably forget some from 5 yrs.

2.      Our memories are faulty.

(1)           Names inscribed in monuments all over the world.

(2)           People will walk up and wonder – “Who is that?”

3.      It is not that we are cold, calloused, and inconsiderate… It is just life.

4.      If physical life (under the sun) is all there is, then at some point, None of us will be remembered!  We will all be forgotten!

5.      BUT, there is One whose memory never fades… God!

(1)           God will always remember the righteous.

(2)           Bible pictures God as having a book of remembrance forever (Psa. 112:6).

CONCLUSION:

1. If you measure the matter only what the eye can see (i.e. under the sun); no man can measure a difference between man and beasts of the earth.

2.     But if you measure by the Bible, there is a difference indeed.

        (1)     Read Eccl. 3:20-22.

        (2)     Solomon’s advice = rather than be gloomy and despair, you should choose to enjoy life.  There is much for the taking and for the enjoyment.

3.     Especially if you recognize that life does not consist solely of things that happen “under the sun.”  We go to God, beyond the sun.

        (1)     Eccl. 12:7

        (2)     And that should be our focal point, instead of what will happen on earth after we are gone.

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