Ecclesiastes 8

"Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.  Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that is will be well with those who fear God (NKJV)....There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.  This too, I say, is meaningless." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes begins with the declaration, "Vanity of vanities/meaningless...."  It appears again in today's text.  The word translated, "vanity/meaningless," is translated elsewhere as, "vapor, delusion, emptiness, nothing."  The Holy Spirit is not telling us that we cannot "attain" wisdom, understanding, knowledge.  What He is telling us, I believe, is that no matter how smart, insightful, perceptive, no one should ever think of him/herself as the "leader of the pack."  Solomon, who was praised by so many, realized that he was not. 

You get the sense as you read through Ecclesiastes that Solomon came to realize "answers" were not quite as easy as he once thought.  Our Lord Jesus refers to, "the wisdom of Solomon," which he did have and shared with his contemporaries, and with us.  We must be careful, however, to come to a conclusion that because a person has great wisdom, he necessarily has everything "figured out."  Solomon did not, e.g., "This too, I say, is meaningless, vapor."

There are two points in our text.  First, people who think that their sin, their deception has been "working" for them in life because nothing but "good" has come from such a life style, should consider the following verse.  "Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God...."  Notice, "....It will go better with those who fear God."  It is pathetic that people who live the delusion that wickedness brings more, "....will go better...," than, "....fear God."  I could pull the "Great White Throne Judgement," and that should put the fear in the hearts of all.  But notice that the contrast here is even in this life.  Fearing God is always, "it will go better," than living in sin.

Second, "....the righteous...get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked...what the righteous deserve."  Of course, this all assumes that we know what we all, "deserve."  At any rate, you have observed this as well as Solomon.  For instance, a person loves Jesus, prays, honors His Words, is a fisher of men, gives to the poor, etc., etc.  But what has happened to some of them?  David Brainerd died at the age of 29; Bonhoeffer at the age of 39; Spurgeon at 57.  Moreover, we all know those who have seemingly died an "untimely death."  O, yes, then there was Bertrand Russel, who called himself at times an agnostic and at other times an atheist.  He died at 98.  There is no answer. 

"....Yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him."  This had better be your, "surely know," and my, "surely know."  Without this, "surely know," you and I are in grave danger, yes, even lost.  Solomon had great wisdom, it is true.  But Solomon had great, shall we say at least, misgivings about what he observed.  He simply did not "know it all."  We keep our lives surrendered to Jesus Christ and His "Law/Word," or we keep ourselves in total darkness of life.  It is okay to not "understand" everything, to have unanswered questions.  But this we must absolutely know, "....that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I always live this.  Amen.
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So far, we have $1400.00 towards our October/November Mission.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Ecclesiastes 7

"....Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart....It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools....The end of a matter is better than its beginning....I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness....Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city....So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly....All this I tested by wisdom and I said, 'I am determined to be wise'-- but this was beyond me."  (Ecclesiastes 7)

"....Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart."  Rational people, of course, will agree with this.  What most "rationals" do, however, is live life as though there were "no tomorrow."

I have been encouraging people for nearly 47 years to read through the Bible regularly.  When one does, life does not catch them so much "by surprise."  There will be "set backs" and questions for which we have no answers, answers, that is, which satisfy fleshly minds.  I am watching Sarah's Mom slowly pass from this life.  It is sad to watch, not only her passing, but the strain it puts on Sarah.  Knowing Jesus, staying full of His Words, however, keeps all of this in a sobering perspective.  In many ways, this does not make some of this "easier," but we, as the Amplified Bible says, "adhere to, trust in and rely on," Jesus, "the Lord [Who] is the strength of my life." 

Solomon had come to a place in his life where he realized that he had fewer answers than he once thought, "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom...."  Apparently from this, we see that the "wisdom" which he and many throughout history thought was his, was not, at least in the sense that there was just so much more to life than even he realized.  This is a start to humility.

A Senior Staff Psychiatrist at Harvard University many years ago said that the top two questions people come to him about is, "How do I find direction and purpose in life," and, "How do I face the reality of my own death?"  He then stated that "Psychiatry is not...primarily concerned with purpose and destiny.  It is here that the Christian Gospel becomes intensely relevant.  Christ's death and resurrection become profoundly meaningful.  He replaces fear, bitterness, and despair with hope, with faith and unspeakable comfort."  People who ignore Jesus pay billions to psychiatrists attempting to face the most frightening issues of life.

The most confident thing I do in life is to read, "the Words of God," for myself and with/to others.  The most anointed I "feel" when preaching is when I am reading the very, "Words of God."  I affirm in me the last words of our text: "All this I tested by wisdom and I said, 'I am determined to be wise' (or whatever I determine)-- but this was beyond me." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my mind will always be "turned" to You.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Eccliesiastes 6

"But if he finds no satisfaction in life..., his birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness." (Ecclesiastes 6, NLT)

An unsatisfied life ends, "in darkness."  Perhaps it would behoove humanity to seek the satisfaction which the Blessed Trinity intended for it.

"We just ran out of gas," said the Atlantic Falcons coach after their embarrassing loss to the Patriots.  Those were my exact words as the Patriots scored the final touchdown.  I have always had my doubts about NFL training.  Some, I'm sure, train well, but it doesn't seem to be like high school and college training.  YOU HAVE TO.  My observation has been always, though, that the stronger team will just wear you out, and, alas, there is just nothing you can do about that.  There you have it, my take on the 2017 Super Bowl.

People who put their trust and hopes and dreams in such things, the popular pursuits of life, the whatevers of life, are those who are doomed to live a life, "....ended in darkness."  I was pulling for the Atlantic Falcons because they have never won a Super Bowl.  There are some, however, "....in darkness", in the US today.  I have heard reports of unbelievable sadness, depression, etc,. of some sports fans after their favorite team looses an event.  Now to some of us, it is ridiculous, but for them the, "in darkness," is very real.

What is the contrast to a life which, "finds no satisfaction..., (is) meaningless,.. in darkness"?  Of course you know, Jesus.  I just spent a few days with some of our grandchildren.  It is always a little sad when I have to leave our children and their children, but today as I was driving and listening to some Psalms, I experienced once again that great, well it is greater than a "feeling."  It was, "joy unspeakable and full of glory," yes, but also that, "peace which passes understanding," which is Jesus Christ Himself.  His Words are always the "remedy" for life's whatevers.

Father, in Jesus' Name, You turn, "....no satisfaction...,  meaningless[ness],.. darkness", into You, "The Light of the World."  Also, "You will show me the path of life.  In Your presence is fullness of joy.  At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Ecclesiastes 5

"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.  For God is in heaven and you on earth; therefore let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

After I committed to going through Ecclesiastes with you, I realized that would include Saturdays and Sundays; therefore, from sunny Cincinnati---------  Could our text be similar to the warning in Joshua about following the Ark too closely? 

As with any portion of Scripture, there is so much to say about all.  I chose verse 2 because of something I have been observing about my praying in recent years, "....therefore let your words be few."  I have found that when you get a "good prayer," keep it, and keep it going.  The Lord's Prayer is such, as is the "prayer of Jabez," as are so very many Bible prayers.  Notice:  I wrote praying these prayers, not to be caught up in the attempt to interpret them. 

But there is more here than praying.  Sometimes we just plain talk to much.  Notice, "....let not your heart utter hastily...."  Everything which comes out of our mouths originates in our hearts.  What my mouth says is what my heart is saying.  Furthermore, you have heard, I'm sure, the statement, "They have no inner dialogue," people who just have to tell you everything they believe, they feel, etc.  This also is a, "heart," issue.  At any rate, there is something here more than I fully grasp.  Here are some prayers for you and me to help us to walk in today's text.  They are from Ephesians and Colossians. "that...our Lord Jesus Christ...may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened....Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

I wonder how this would go.  "Do not be rash with your mouth....Therefore let your words be few."  The first part is perhaps a best cure for the last part.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so want life-changing and other-impacting meaning here.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2