2018 Ken Miller Momentum – a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

42

42

WEEK 6: When the Afterlife Becomes an Afterthought – Ecclesiastes 11-12 • The end of the matter – 12:11-14

Wise words are like goads – - Like a sharp stick to the rump - Simple, memorable, and impactful - Great for causing mid-course correction

The collected sayings of the wise are like nails firmly fixed – - They keep things where they were meant to be - They hold things in place - They provide a sense of security and stability to life

The whole duty of man: The fear God and keep His commandments - But what was Solomon’s motivation

o For Solomon, God’s judgment came in this life o It was administered “under the sun” o It came in the form of material blessings and curses o And to pursue blessings apart from God was vanity o God is the giver of gifts and the ability to enjoy them

• Solomon had inadequate understanding of death

- It greatly influenced how he views life

Life after death was an enigmatic to him as the unequal distribution of justice. His emphasis was on this life (“under the sun”) and its opportunities for service and enjoyment. He thought life after death offered no such opportunities. – Donald R. Glenn, Ecclesiastes, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament

- Solomon has tried it all… o He is wise beyond belief o He has wealth beyond measure o He has experimented with every form pleasure and self-gratification

2018 Ken Miller Momentum – a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

43

43

o Yet he still lacked significance, satisfaction and true success in life o And he faced a certain death with uncertainty

It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” – Ecclesiastes 9:3-4 NLT

o When faced with the inevitability and uncertainty of death…make the most out of this life

§ Use your assets wisely – “cast your bread upon the waters” § Diversify – “give a portion to seven, or even to eight” § Cease the opportunities – “if the clouds are full of rain”

o Solomon is giving “under the sun” counsel § Work hard • Be diligent § Act wisely • Don’t procrastinate § Impact what you can • Use common sense § Leave the rest up to God

o Good advice, but incomplete § Solomon was leaving out the reality of eternity § His focus was on the here-and-now, not the hereafter § He knew the importance of living wisely, but not expectantly

- All that comes is vanity – 9:7-10

o Solomon saw death as nothing more than days filled with darkness o They were marked by judgment o So, he preferred “life under the sun” o It was better not to dwell on the “vexation” of death o But what did Jesus tell His disciples?

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” – John 14:1-3 NLT o For Solomon, this life was filled with vanity o But the next life was filled with uncertainty o He chose to live by what he could taste, touch, see, and feel o Belief in eternity requires faith

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. – Hebrews 11:1 NLT …we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

2018 Ken Miller Momentum – a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

44

44

• Remember your Creator while you can – 12:1-2

- Solomon put a high priority on youth - He was an old man looking back nostalgically

A brief review: - Solomon had been given every opportunity - He was the son of the great king, David - God had given him wisdom, wealth and power - But Solomon had forgotten his Creator - He had sought out other gods

o He developed an obsession with his possessions o He sought satisfaction from the gifts rather than the Giver o He compromised his convictions o He made false gods equal to the one true God o He suffered from spiritual complacency and moral compromise o He made the afterlife an afterthought

- Now, he was facing the certainty of death o …man is going to his eternal home… – vs 5 o …the silver cord is snapped… – vs 6 o …the golden bowl is broken… – vs 6 o …the pitcher is shattered at the fountain… – vs 6 o …the wheel broken at the cistern… – vs 6 o …the dust returns to the earth… – vs 7 o …the spirit return to God who gave it… – vs 7

- All is vanity! o Does this sound like a guy who is excited about eternity?

§ He is filled with fear § His fear is fueled by uncertainty § His uncertainty is fed by his unfamiliarity with God § And his unfamiliarity with God makes faith in God impossible

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” – John 3:16-21 NLT

• Words of delight and truth

2018 Ken Miller Momentum – a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

45

45

The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. – Ecclesiastes 12:10 ESV - Solomon meant well - He intended his words to encourage - But he had an inadequate understanding of life and eternity

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. – Psalm 37:4 NLT

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 NLT “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” – John 5:24 NLT - We can learn a lot from Solomon

o But we have the end of the story o We know about the incarnation and resurrection o We know truth about life and the certainty of eternity

- Not quite all “has been heard”

o Not quite all had been heard o There was a Son to send o There was a sacrifice to offer o There was a resurrection to take place o And there is a King who is going to return some day

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. – Revelation 19:12-16 ESV