Ecc12 Life (4/4)

# Life

## Ecclesiastes 12
### The Search for Meaning (4/4)

[Montreal, CA. Marc-Olivier Jodoin](https://unsplash.com/photos/TStNU7H4UEE "caption")

---

1. *Sat pm:* What is **Wisdom**? [(ch1)](# "ref")
1. *Sun am:* Is there meaning 
 in **Ambition** + **Money**? [(ch2,5)](# "ref")
1. *Sun pm:* What is the **Fate** of mankind? [(ch9)](# "ref")
1. *Mon am:* What is the meaning of **Life**? [(ch12)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Sol's **search** for meaning / purpose
+ tried **pleasure, projects, possessions**
  + what is **crooked** cannot be straightened
+ tried **wisdom** + **folly**
  + wisdom: only more **frustration**
  + folly: **harms** self
+ could only see up to **death**, not **beyond** it
  + but hope of **resurrection** changes everything

---

# What is the **meaning** of life?

>>>
+ today: Sol's **conclusion**
+ with all of his **wisdom** and **resources**
  + Teacher (Qoheleth): **assembles** wisdom
+ from what he can see **under the sun**
+ the **end of the matter**:
  + the **sum** of
  + what our **life** on earth
  + **amounts** to
+ ch12 opens with a sad + beautiful **poem**
  + we'll only read **part** of it now
  + I'll read the rest for you shortly:

******
[1](# "ref")
Remember also your Creator 
in the days of your youth,

before the evil days come 
and the years draw near of which you will say, 
“I have no pleasure in them” ...

[7](# "ref")
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, 
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

[Ecclesiastes 12:1,7 (ESV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

******
[8](# "ref")
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; 
all is vanity.

[11](# "ref")
The words of the wise are like goads, 
and like nails firmly fixed 
are the collected sayings; 
they are given by one Shepherd.

[Ecclesiastes 12:8,11 (ESV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

******
[13](# "ref")
The end of the matter; all has been heard.

Fear God and keep his commandments, 
for this is the whole duty of man.

[14](# "ref")
For God will bring every deed into judgment, 
with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

[Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

---

## Life [(Ecc12)](# "ref")
1. Our Eternal **Home** [(v1-8)](# "ref")
1. The Shepherd's **Goads** [(v9-12)](# "ref")
1. The **Fear** of the LORD [(v13-14)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Frailty** of man + **sovereignty** of God
+ call to **heed** God's wisdom
+ present **existence** + future **hope** revolve on
  + **justice** + **mercy** of God
+ **snippets** of poem in ch12;

---

Remember also your **Creator** 
in the days of your **youth**,

before the **evil days** come

[Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ getting **old** is no fun
  + have **wisdom** of experience
+ but also **regret** over wasted **youth**:
  + only thought of **own** dreams/aspirations
  + did not acknowledge my **Creator**
+ facing **death** brings life into **focus**
  + we are going to **face** our Creator
+ are we **prepared**?

---

Man is going to his **eternal home**, 
and the **mourners** go about the streets

[Ecclesiastes 12:5 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ukraine. Paul Itkin](https://unsplash.com/photos/xCdFXXoZkJc "caption")

>>>
+ we were **created** by God
+ so when we die, we **return** to Him
  + our **eternal home**
+ Hebrews tells us we then face a **reckoning**
  + an **accounting** of our lives:

---

Just as it is appointed for man to **die once**, 
and after that comes **judgment**,

so **Christ**, having been **offered once** 
to bear the **sins** of many,

will appear a **second** time, not to deal with **sin** 
but to **save** those 
who are eagerly waiting for him.

[Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ales Krivec](https://unsplash.com/photos/ywtbSuCSjhM "caption")

>>>
+ **how** will we be **judged**?
  + not **intentions**, trying
  + not **compared** w/others: on curve
+ " Be holy, as I an holy "
+ if **no one** is righteous in God's sight
+ then our **eternal home** would be
  + eternity in the **fires** of His judgment
+ but Jesus' **death** on cross
  + has already **bourne** our sins
+ **one** sacrifice to cover
  + **all** our misdeeds past/present/future
+ first came riding a **donkey**, humble
  + as **Suffering Servant**
+ but He will **return** soon, this time
  + on a white **war horse** *(Rev19:11-16)*
  + as **Victorious King**
+ this is the **hope** we eagerly **wait** for
+ **remember** Him, our **Creator**
  + don't **waste** time on **meaningless** pursuits
+ I'll **read** for you the full text v1-8
  + Sol's poem of **lament**
+ are we **prepared** for our **eternal home**?

---

Remember also your **Creator** 
in the days of your **youth**,

before the **evil days** come 
and the years draw near of which you will say, 
“I have **no pleasure** in them”;

before the **sun** and the light 
and the **moon** and the stars are **darkened** 
and the **clouds** return after the rain,

[Ecclesiastes 12:1-2 (ESV) (p.1/6)](# "ref")
[Dominik QN, Thailand](https://unsplash.com/photos/9gGQvhC4PEY "caption")

---

in the day when 
the **keepers** of the house tremble, 
and the **strong men** are bent,

and the **grinders** cease because they are few, 
and those who look through the **windows** 
are dimmed,

[Ecclesiastes 12:3 (ESV) (p.2/6)](# "ref")

---

and the **doors** on the street are shut -- 
when the sound of the **grinding** is low,

and one **rises up** at the sound of a bird, 
and all the daughters of **song** are brought low --

[Ecclesiastes 12:4 (ESV) (p.3/6)](# "ref")

---

they are **afraid** also of what is **high**, 
and terrors are in the **way**;

the **almond tree** blossoms, 
the **grasshopper** drags itself along, 
and **desire** fails,

because man is going to his **eternal home**, 
and the **mourners** go about the streets --

[Ecclesiastes 12:5 (ESV) (p.4/6)](# "ref")

---

before the **silver cord** is snapped, 
or the **golden bowl** is broken,

or the **pitcher** is shattered at the fountain, 
or the **wheel** broken at the cistern,

[Ecclesiastes 12:6 (ESV) (p.5/6)](# "ref")

---

and the **dust** returns to the **earth** as it was, 
and the **spirit** returns to **God** who gave it.

**Vanity** of vanities, says the Preacher; 
all is vanity.

[Ecclesiastes 12:7-8 (ESV) (p.6/6)](# "ref")

---

# Am I **prepared** to go to my **eternal home**?

>>>
+ appointed to **die** once
  + then to face **judgment**
+ only Jesus' **sacrifice** can take away our **sin**
+ we **eagerly await** His **return**
+ and **look forward** to our **eternal home**
  + at **rest** in His arms

---

## Life [(Ecc12)](# "ref")
1. Our Eternal Home [(v1-8)](# "ref")
1. **The Shepherd's Goads** [(v9-12)](# "ref")
1. The Fear of the LORD [(v13-14)](# "ref")

>>>
+ coming toward **conclusion**
+ Sol **reflects** on his pursuit of **wisdom**:

---

The **words** of the wise are like **goads**, 
and like **nails** firmly fixed 
are the collected sayings;

they are given by one **Shepherd**.

[Ecclesiastes 12:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Elephant Rock, Australia. Jordan Donaldson](https://unsplash.com/photos/FAVdyq1Qz24 "caption")

>>>
+ **goads**: poky sticks to **guide** plowing animals
  + **uncomfortable**, by design
  + **immovable**, useless to kick against them
  + **turn** us where we ought to go
+ **nails**: sturdy, reliable
  + **trust** my life to it
  + it won't **let** me down
+ one **Shepherd**: everything in Eccl is from **God**
  + all of Sol's observations **under the sun**
  + are still **true**!
+ **futility** of earthly **ambitions** drives us to
  + set our **hope** on what is **eternal**

---

# What words of **wisdom** have been **goading** me?

>>>
+ like sharp poky **sticks**
+ God's **truth** often **uncomfortable**
+ but **guides** us where we need to go

---

## Life [(Ecc12)](# "ref")
1. Our Eternal Home [(v1-8)](# "ref")
1. The Shepherd's Goads [(v9-12)](# "ref")
1. **The Fear of the LORD** [(v13-14)](# "ref")

>>>
+ finally come to Sol's **conclusion**

---

The **end** of the matter; all has been heard.

**Fear God** and keep his **commandments**, 
for this is the **whole** [duty] of man.

For God will bring every **deed** into **judgment**, 
with every **secret** thing, whether **good** or **evil**.

[Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")

>>>
+ **whole duty**: Heb. doesn't have "duty"
  + "the **whole** of man"
+ the **sum** of our existence on earth
  + our **identity**, who we are
+ **fear God**: common theme throughout OT
  + right **attitude**: awe, reverence, honour
  + manifest in **obedience** to His commands
  + in both Heb/Gr, same word as **terror**
+ but usually we run **away** from what we fear
  + fear of the LORD draws us **closer**
+ He is not only **just** + **holy**
  + but also **merciful** + **loving**
+ **Every** deed into judgment:
  + by God's **perfect** holiness
+ nothing is **hidden** from God's eyes
  + even innermost **thoughts** of the heart
+ but if we have **Christ**,
  + we do not **fear** this judgment
  + Romans 8 **encourages** us:

---

There is therefore now **no condemnation** 
for those who are in **Christ Jesus**.

For the law of the **Spirit of life** has set you 
**free** in Christ from the law of **sin and death**.

[Romans 8:1 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Lac d'Anterne, France.  Hugues de Buyer-Mimeure](https://unsplash.com/photos/-wT0iS-TSZM "caption")

>>>
+ when we face **judgment**
  + all our **secret sins** revealed
  + before the **holy** Creator
+ if we are in **Christ Jesus**
  + He saves us from being **condemned**
+ law of **sin+death**:
  + trying to be **righteous**
  + is **futile** on our own strength
+ law of **Spirit of life**:
  + Christ bore **condemntn** in our place
  + gave us **new life**
  + and **Holy Spirit** to dwell in us

---

# Do I **fear** death and judgment?

>>>
+ the entirety of **who I am** is
  + to **fear** God and
  + **keep** His commands
+ not **fearing** the coming **judgment**
  + but **trusting** my life to Jesus
  + who has **bourne** the penalty for me
+ He gives me new **life**
  + new **hope** above the **sun**
  + **purpose** + meaning in this life

---