TheUltimateMeaningofLife
Ecclesiastes12:1-14
*MileyCyrusis23yearsold–ANYTimesarticlelastweek:“WelcometoMileyCyrus’worldofexcess”
*Itdescribedherfallfrominnocencetovulgarsonglyricsthat“bludgeonthesenses”
*ImagineMileysittingdownforcoffeewithSolomon–whatcouncilwouldhegive?
*For11chapters,Solomonhasreflectedonthe“worldofexcess”inwhichheoncelived.
*Heoncehadvastpossessions&wealth,butitneverboughtjoy.
*Heoncefilledthefleshw/worldlypleasure,buthissoulwasneversatisfied.
*Heoncehadgreatsuccess,butintimeherealizeditwasallafaçade;lifeisavapor.
*Andnowinhisoldage,helooksbacktotheexcessivelifestyle“underthesun”andsays:It’s
allVanity,meaningless–achasingafterthewind.”
*Chapter12ishisfinalreflectiononthemeaningoflife–oldagehasclarifiedhisfocus;heknowsheis
abouttomeethisCreator;andsohetakesonelastchancetogivecounciltoyoungpeopleonwhat
mattersmostinlife.
*Picture:OldSolomonsittingdownforcoffeew/Miley&agroupofyoungpeopletosay:No
matterwhatelseyoudo,don’tmissthis!”
*Thisweek,Iwentforcoffeewitha76yearoldmanfromNewHope:
*WetalkedaboutEcclesiastes;aboutoldage;death;thismanwalkswithacane;he’sadisabled
veteranwithpartialhearingloss;hehasarthritis;he’sfallen15xthisyear.
*Hesaid:“IamawarethatIhavemoredaysbehindthanahead-Iwillmeetmy
Creatorsoon.”
“Whatwouldyousaytoyoungpeople?”“Iwasjustlikeyouoneday.Fullofself.Mindingmy
ownbusiness.UntilGodgotaholdofmylifeandsavedme.Jesuschangedmylife.Hechanged
myfamily.AndIpleadwithyouwithallmyhearttochooseChrist!IurgeyoutosayYes!
1. RememberyourCreator,(v.1-8)
v.1:RememberalsoyourCreatorinthedaysofyouryouth,
*Remember–livewithHiminmind;livewithanawarenessthatHeistheAncientofDays,the
Authoroflife,TheEverlastingGod,theEternalJudge,andtheCreatorofallthatexists.
*Remember,Remember…Don’tforget,don’tforget…(SayYEStohim;Don’tgetsobusy
thatyouforgethim;makeHimyour1stpriority;HeisLordoftheuniverse)
*Also–Inadditionto11:9,whereheremindedyoungpeople:forallthesethingsGodwillbring
youintoJudgment.”
*Youthoftenforgetthis;Withage,therealityofdeath&finaljudgmentsetsin!
*YourCreator:ScripturesaysGodistheCreatoroftheuniverse;uniquelycreatedyou.
*Youarenotanaccidentofthecosmos;youarenotaproductoftime&chance.
*YouareasonofAdam;adaughterofEve;HecreatedyouinHisimage,forhisglory
Onward:“ThechildwithDownsyndromeinthe5throwfromthebackinyourchurchis
afutureKingoftheUniverse.”
*InDaysofYouth–aspecificchargetoyoungpeoplefromanoldman.
*Youngpeopleoftenthink:“Ihaveplentyoftime.”…Really?Whosays?
*Theyoftenkickthecandowntheroad:figuretheywilldecidelater.
*Asdecadesgoby,theykeepkickingthecan,andgrowmoresetinways.
*Solomonlooksback–possiblywithregretoverhisdecisions:Don’tfritterawayyour
youth;Don’tputitoffforalaterday;Settletheissueearly;
NT:“Today,ifyouhearHim,don’thardenhearts!”Neverguaranteedtomorrow
FascinatingStudieshavebeendoneoftheagewhenpeoplechoosetofollowChrist:
**85%whofollowChristchosetodosobetween4-14yearsold.(“4-14Window”)
(Which,bytheway,iswhywewantresourcestoflowtowardKidzone–thatis
thechiefwindowofreachingpeopleforthecauseofJesusChrist.)
**10%followChristbetween15-30yearsold.
**Only4%ofpeoplemakedecisionsforChristover30yearsold.
*Whatdoesthatteachusaboutthetypicalpatternofoldage?Theolderweget,the
morestubborn&setinourways!”Solomonsays:“AcknowledgetheLordinyouryouth
Lastweek:Ethandidsignlanguage“Gloria”–Iwept–thatisayoungmanwhohasdecidedin
hishearttoRememberhisCreator&praisehimw/hislanguage!
InhonorofEthan,Iask:“Whatareyoudoing?”–WillyousayYestoChrist?Willyou
considerallthingslosstogainChrist?Willyoulooktohimforsalvation?
BEFORE…3X:Beforeit’stoolate–beforeyouturnintoasourcurmudgeon–before…
A. Beforetroublecomesup.(v.1-2)
…beforetheevildayscomeandtheyearsdrawnearofwhichyouwillsay,"Ihavenopleasurein
them";2beforethesunandthelightandthemoonandthestarsaredarkenedandtheclouds
returnaftertherain,
*Wedon’tknowwhentragedywillstrike–orwhendifficultywillcome–orwhenthe
sunwillbedarkened–andourmindsaredarkened-manydelaymakingadecisionfor
theLordb/ctheyfiguretheyhaveplentyoftime.
*Yesterday,acouplecametoprayeraskingforprayerfor2family/friendsinICU.
*Their2friendshaveheardthegoodnews;they’vedelayeddecision;andnowdaysof
troublehaverisen.
*ThedangerwithresistingtheLordis2-fold:
1.Themorewesay“No”,thelesslikelywewilleversayYes.
2.Themoreweage,themorestubborn&setinthewaysweget.
*A74yearoldNHmantoldmethisweek:“Itisverydifficultforpeopleintheiroldageto
changetheirhearts.”Whatareyoudoing?Today,ifyouhearhisvoice…
B. Beforeoldagesetsin.(v.3-5)
Solomonisamasteratlanguage-heusesabout15metaphorstodescribethephysical
strugglesthatoftenaccompanyoldage.
*Hispoint:toimplorepeopleto“RemembertheLordBefore”it’stoolate!
v.3:inthedaywhenthekeepersofthehousetremble,andthestrongmenarebent,andthe
grindersceasebecausetheyarefew,andthosewholookthroughthewindowsaredimmed,
Keepersofthehousetremble–hands,whichoncewerestrongtobuild&work&
defend,nowgrowweak,tired;stagesofParkinson’ssetin,causinghandstotremble…
Strongmenbent–frame;menwhooncewalkedtall&carriedplywood&didheavy
lifting,nowbendoverandwalkfeeblywithacane;
EvenLebron–lifetimeNikedeal-$1Million/weekforrestoflife…willgetold
Grinderscease…few–teeth–decay&loss-lastweekendattheJourney,mydaughter
wasinBethlehemandsaidtoawoman:“Yourteetharesobeautiful&white!”
*Thewomanreplied:“That’sbecausetheirdentures”
Thosewholookthroughwindowsaredimmed–eyesight–stigmatisms;glaucoma;
cataracts;maculardegeneration;retinaldetachment;cornealulcers;
*Solomonissaying:Don’twaituntilthebodyisweak&eyesightfails!Decidenow!
“Whatareyoudoing?”Doyouhaveeyestosee?
4andthedoorsonthestreetareshut—whenthesoundofthegrindingislow,andonerises
upatthesoundofabird,andallthedaughtersofsongarebroughtlow—
Doorsonthestreetareshut–Noise/HearingLoss–damagedonetoears–theelderly
oftenloseabilitytohearcertainpitches–theyturnthevolumeofTVHIGH–somelose
theabilitytoheartheirspouse:(Whichsomearegratefulfor!)“What’dyousay?”
Grindingislow–Eating;appetiteshrinks;coupleswhooncecouldeatlargeportions
nowbegintoeatsmallerportions&sharemeals.
Risesatsoundofabird–sleepproblems;insomnia;discomfortorpainthatmakesit
hardtorest;frequenttripstotherestroom.
Daughtersofsongbroughtlow–Voice&Ability;awoman(likeMiley)whooncecould
singacrossastage,laterstrugglestogetoutawhisper&losesherability.
*Solomon:Don’twaituntilhearingislostorstrengthfades!Youmayneverdoit!
*Ourfamilyrecentlyhadlunchwithacoupleintheir80’sinFlorida–Theywere
politelyarguingoverdetailsofsomepaststory(Wedothisforentertainment!),until
oneofthemfinallysaid:Ican’tevenrememberwhatIdidyesterday.
5theyareafraidalsoofwhatishigh,andterrorsareintheway;thealmondtreeblossoms,
thegrasshopperdragsitselfalong,anddesirefails,becausemanisgoingtohiseternal
home,andthemournersgoaboutthestreets—
Afraidof…high/terrors–Fearoffalling;fearoflegsgivingout;fearoflifedangers
Almondtreeblossoms–Hair-Looksverymuchlikecherrytreesinfullbloom–White!–
Hairwhichwasoncesofull&black,nowblossomsafullwhite…turning…changing…
Grasshopperdragsitself–onetimeamanwasabletospringaround&leaplikea
grasshopper,nowhedealsw/jointpain;backpain;arthritis;&strugglesupstairs.
Iwasfollowinganoldermandownstairsrecently–hewasgoingslow–each
stepwasdifficult–Hesaidsomethinglike:“Stairsgethardereveryday.”
Desirefails–couldbedecreasedsexualdesire;or…desireingeneralbeginstofade.
Decreasedvisionforliving;nodrive;alackofmotivationforlife.“Ihavenovision.”
b/cManisgoingtohiseternalhome&mournerscome–deathapproaches;avisitto
Reynolds-Jonkhoffisonthehorizonwheremournerswillgathertotalkaboutyourlife
*Solomon’spoint:Don’twaituntilyouphysicallyareunabletorespond!
*AladyatN.H.recentlyexperiencedmini-strokes,whichmayaffecthermemory–she
said:“Pastor,Ijustdon’twanttoforgetmySaviorandwhatHe’sdoneforme!”
*WhatacomforttoknowthatthiswomanhaschosentoremembertheLord
today,andasaresult,theLordwillneverforgether!
C. Beforetimerunsout.(v.6-8)
v.6:beforethesilvercordissnapped,orthegoldenbowlisbroken,orthepitcheris
shatteredatthefountain,orthewheelbrokenatthecistern,7andthedustreturnstothe
earthasitwas,andthespiritreturnstoGodwhogaveit.
*Silver,Gold,Pitcher;Wheel-articlesofgreatvalue–theycarryoil/water–asymbolof
humanlife,thatispreciousandcreatedbyGodwithgreatworth…
*Snapped,Broken,Shattered…Themindfinallysnaps;thebodyfinallybreaks;andthe
spiritwhichiscontainedinthebodyfinallyflowsout.
*Dustreturns…Spiritreturns:lifeisover;bodyinground;spiritreturnstotheCreator
*DeathClock:(Pessimistic:2030;Optimistic:2072)
8Vanityofvanities,saysthePreacher;allisvanity.
OneofShakespeare’smostquotedpassages:“AlltheWorld’sastage”
Alltheworld'sastage,Andallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers;Theyhavetheirexits
andtheirentrances,Andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts,Hisactsbeingsevenages
1. Atfirst,theinfant,mewlingandpukinginthenurse'sarms.
2. Thenthewhiningschoolboy,withhissatchelandshiningmorningface,creepinglike
asnail,unwillinglytoschool.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Andthenthelover,
Thenasoldier,
Andthenthejustice,
Thesixthageshiftsintotheleanandslipperedpantaloons,withspectaclesonnose
andpouchonside;
7. Lastsceneofall,thatendsthisstrangeeventfulhistory,issecondchildishnessand
mereoblivion,withoutteeth,withouteyes,withouttaste,withouteverything.
Ecclesiastes12isthefinalactonearth’sStage–andSolomon’spoint(especiallytoyoung
people)is:RememberyourCreator,beforeit’stoolate!
*Whileyouhavehands,serveHim;
*Whileyouhaveeyes,seeHim;
*Whileyouhaveears,hearHim.
*Whileyouhaveamind,knowHim.
*Whileyouhaveaheart,loveHim.
Ethan:“Whatareyoudoing?”Doyouhaveeyestosee?
AAAAdvice:Art&ArleneAdvice:
*Marriedsince1951;ArtaveteranofKoreanWar;BothhavebeendedicatedtoJesusChristfor
7decades;acouplewhohasearnedtherighttogiveadvicefromtheiryearsofwisdom.
“Asourbodieshavegrownolder,wehavehadtoacceptphysicalchangesandlimitations.We
arethankfultoGodtohaveheardthegospelandrespondedwhenweweremuchyoungerand
madeadecisiontoembraceHimforlife.
8ActionSteps:ServetheLordwithgladness-giveHimyourverybest-Getbusyfor
Christ-letothersknowyoubelieveinHimandwhy-beawareoftheHolySpirit’s
promptinginyourheart-ToHischurchbefaithful-rememberthatthereisafuture
judgment-lovetheLordyourGodwithallyourheart,soulandmight.”
Onlyonelife,t’willsoonbepast.Onlywhat’sdoneforChristwilllast.
Hebrews:“Today,ifyouhearHisvoice,donothardenyourheart.”
Whataboutyou?WhatactionstepisGodcallingyouto?
RememberYourCreator:
*TheLordJesusbecameafrailbaby–attheLastSupperhedistributedthebread&winetothe
disciplesandtoldthem:“Rememberme”
*Whatareyoudoing?WheredoyouneedtoRememberHim?
Youngercrowd:aspecialwordtoyou–Willyoudecidetodaytocounteverythingaslosscomparedto
knowingChrist.
IfOldSolomoncouldtakeyououtforcoffee,hewouldsay:Decide,beforeit’stoolate.
Elderly:Aslongasyouhavelife&breath&health&lungs&mind,Godstillholdsouthisarmstoyou.
*Foroldcurmudgeonswhohavestubbornlyresisted,heoffersnewnessoflife
*Forthosewhosebodiesarefailing,Heoffersthehopeofresurrection.
*Evenforthosewhoarestaringatdeath,Jesusoffershope:
AsJesushungonthecross,aThiefnexttohimneededgrace,&said:“RememberMe!”
*There,theCreatorassuredhim:“Today,youwillbewithme.”
*Whataboutyou?Willyourepentofsin,looktoJesus,&rememberyourCreator?