ECCLESIASTES 8: 1-9:6 YOU WILL NEVER GET OUT OF THIS WORLD ALIVE!

 

ECCLESIASTES 8: 1-9:6 

¹ Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

² I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.³ Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.⁴ For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"⁵ Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.⁶ For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.⁷ For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?⁸ No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.⁹ All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

¹⁰ Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.¹¹ Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.¹² Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.¹³ But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

¹⁴ There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.¹⁵ And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

¹⁶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,¹⁷ then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.

9:1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.² It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.³ This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.⁴ But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.⁵ For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.⁶ Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have visited Solomon's Playlist of Songs.  We have avoided country music. There is the truth about Country music , it is mostly about suffering. Two major themes are suffering because of a mean or ugly woman, and the suffering that comes from drinking. Here are some song titles demonstrating those themes. "Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure;" and "I Wouldn't Take Her to a Dawg Fight, 'Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win."  "I'd Rather Have a Bottle in Front of Me Than a Frontal Lobotomy;"  January 1, 1953 the #1 song on the country music charts was written and sung by Hank Williams. It was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" and the words said: "Now you're lookin' at a man that's gettin' kind-a mad / I had lot's of luck but it's all been bad / No matter how I struggle and strive / I'll never get out of this world a- live."  It's ironic that on the very day that this song became #1, Hank Williams died, January 1, 1953,  engraved on his headstone "I'll never get out of this world alive."

I heard a funny story about a preacher who was attempting to impress upon the congregation the reality of death. He said, "Every member of this church is going to die!" When he said that a young boy on the front row giggled. So the preacher thundered again, "I say, every member of this church is going to die!" The same kid on the front row laughed again. The preacher stopped and said, "Son, what's so funny about what I said?" The boy said, "I'm not a member of this church!"

Hebrews 9:27-28: "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Is it really true "you'll never get out of this world alive?" Let's notice three important truths found in this portion of God's Word.

1.     RECKON ON THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH

For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.⁷ For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?⁸ No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.⁹ All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt. ¹⁰ Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.

9:1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.6 Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

Don't Deny It

Our age has many names for death so we don't have to say it: "to turn your toes up" "to croak" ""he's gone" "he passed away" "he is no longer with us." In his poem "Graveyards," Sir John Betjeman, the late poet laureate of England, wrote: Oh, why do people waste their breath  Inventing dainty names for death

A few years ago, a letter went out from the Department of Social Services. The letter was addressed to over fifty former residents who had recently died. The letter said: "To whom it may concern: Your payments will be stopped effective immediately, because we have received notice that you passed away. You may reapply if your circumstances change."

J. C. Ryle wrote: Death is the mighty leveler. He spares no one. He will not tarry till you are ready. He will not be kept out by moats, and doors, and bars, and bolts. The Englishman boasts that his home is his castle, but with all his boasting, he cannot exclude death. An Austrian nobleman forbade death and the smallpox to be named in his presence. But, named or not named, it matters little, in God's appointed hour death will come.

There are health-conscious people who work out daily, eat a disciplined diet, take their vitamins, and then suffer a heart attack while jogging, like a neighbor of ours a few years ago. Sadly the 50 year old super-fit guy went running without his license or phone, and as he lived alone no one knew who he was for about a week. We can and should care for our bodies, but there's nothing we can do to be in total control.

During her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth I was considered the most powerful woman on earth. But as she was dying, she said, "Oh my God! It is over. I have come to the end of it—the end, the end. To have only one life, and to have done with it! To have lived, and loved, and triumphed; and now to know it is over! One may defy everything else but this."

You may agree with Woody Allen who said, "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

The death of 52 year old Shane Warne in March this year at such a young age warns us so much of this reality. The National health authority recognised today that for those who caught Covid this year are 20 times more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than those who did not catch it according to some studies in the UK and USA of 48 million people.  "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14).

2.     REALISE THE REALITY OF JUDGEMENT

¹⁰ Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.¹¹ Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.¹² Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.¹³ BUT IT WILL NOT BE WELL WITH THE WICKED, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

"It is appointed for men to die once ... and after that to face judgement." (Hebrews 9:27) Death is not the end, the Bible teaches that there is something after death - judgement. You won't miss your appointment with death, and you will have you day in God's court. Whether you are a Christian, or an unbeliever, you will face God's judgement after you die. It will be a judgement that results in people being thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. The Apostle John described the final judgment in these words: "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence...and I saw the dead, great and small standing before the throne...the dead were judged according to what they had done...If anyone's name was not found written in the book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire...the lake of fire is the second death." (Revelation 20:11-15)  When Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, he chose to place the last judgment on the front wall. In it, Jesus can be seen with His hand raised as if He is issuing orders. In the bottom of the picture, he painted people who were crying out in anguish from being sentenced to eternity separated from God. Who will be at this judgement? Of course, we would expect the Nero's, the Hitlers, the Stalins, and murderers who lived such evil lives. But Jesus indicated there will be counterfeit Christians there as well. Some good church members who never came to know Jesus will be there and they will be in shock. Jesus described the sad scene in Matthew 7:21. He said, "Not everyone who says unto me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven...Many will say unto me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never KNEW you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

I must speak about hell because the Bible speaks about hell. It breaks my heart to think that there will be people who die without accepting God's free gift of eternal life.

I used to think it was easy to go to hell. In fact, in college I used to hand out tracts that I thought were funny. On the outside it said "How to go to hell." On the inside there were no words—it was blank by design. Meaning, if you want to go to hell you do nothing. It's easy to go to hell, just never turn to Christ and repent of your sins.

In Greek mythology, the edge of the world was the strait of Gibraltar at the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Greeks, there was a huge statue of Hercules blocking the exit out to the Atlantic Ocean. It was called the Pillars of Hercules and it had three Latin words on it: Non Plus Ultra. Which means, "No more beyond." For centuries, the sea captains believed that was the edge of the world, so they never ventured far past that point. But we know they were wrong. And explorers like Christopher Columbus went beyond the point of where they believed there was "no more beyond." In the city of Valladolid, Spain, where Columbus is buried, there's a huge monument built to his memory. Below Columbus, we can read those three words again, non plus ultra or "no more beyond." But when you look closer you see that there is a lion in the monument who is tearing away the "non." Columbus had the courage of a lion to venture beyond the point where most people thought there was "no more  beyond." He discovered that there IS more beyond. There are some people who think there is nothing beyond the grave. They think there is non plus ultra—no more beyond.

But there was a man named Jesus who was crucified and buried. After three days He emerged from the grave and ripped away the idea that there is no more beyond. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. But the Bible also calls Him the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And like the lion in that monument, Jesus tears away the doubt and fear you might have about death and the afterlife. He came out of that tomb to declare to the world that there is PLUS ULTRA! There is MORE BEYOND the grave!! And for those of us who know Jesus as our Savior that MORE BEYOND means spending eternity with Him in Heaven.

(Matthew 7:21-23) So, there is the certainty of death and the reality of Judgement and

3.     REACH OUT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVATION

I love Hebrews 9:26-28 But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,28 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.

We hear a lot about "the second coming of Christ" and I'm excited about it. There are hundreds of verses that teach the second coming, but this is the only verse in the Bible that employs the phrase "appear a second time." Jesus came the first time to bear our sin–and He did that when He died on the cross.  1Peter 2:24 says, "He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree." When He comes the second time, He won't be coming as the gentle Jesus, meek and mild; He will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He came the first time as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world; He will return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! When He came the first time, He was judged, tortured and killed by evil men; when He comes again, He will come as the Judge! When He came the first time He tasted death; when He comes the second time He will have the keys to death and Hades. Do you know what happens to a Christian when they die? The body quits, but the true person, the soul and the spirit, go to be with Jesus. That's why the Bible says, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

Hank Williams said, "I'll never get out of this world alive." Too bad, because the truth is that if you have Jesus living in your heart, you WILL get out of this world alive.  The full meaning of the gospel is not that Jesus died–that's just one part. The gospel says He was crucified, buried, and three days later He was raised from the dead. He tasted death for me, and He conquered it. In John 11:25 Jesus made this amazing claim: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." (John 11:25)

He said, "Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world." (John 11:26-27)

J.I. Packer is a great Christian theologian. He's 93 years old and recently wrote this about his anticipation of Heaven: "As I get older, I find that I appreciate God and people and good and lovely things more and more intensely; so it is pure delight to think that this enjoyment will continue and increase in some form, literally forever. In fact, Christians inherit the destiny which fairy tales envisaged in fancy: we live and live happily, and by God's endless mercy will live happily ever after." (Your Father Loves You, p. 68)

4. REJOICE IN THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE

So how then shall we live in the light of our soon demise? Solomon does not say, "Eat, drink, and be merry for we're going to die." But he does give some advice for life.

1. Eat Every Meal As If It Is A Banquet.  Go, eat your bread with joy,  And drink your wine with a merry heart;  For God has already accepted your works.  ECCLESIASTES 9:7  We're surprised to see how many verses in the Bible tell us to simply enjoy our meals. In the Jewish culture, the meal was a very important time. In Solomon's day, the evening meal occurred after a grueling day of work. It was a time of joy.

2. Celebrate Every Day As If Is A Party.  Let your garments always be white,  And let your head lack no oil. ECCLESIASTES 9:8  Births, weddings, and harvest festivals were special occasions in Solomon's day. He tells us to dress every day as if we're on the way to a celebration of life. Paul joins the chorus: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). And "rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Some would say, "What do I have to rejoice about? I could die anytime." Exactly! That's a great reason to let every waking moment be a celebration of God's gift of life. Get dressed. Eat out with a friend. Why? Because you can! And because God enjoys your enjoyment.

3. Enjoy Marriage As If on Your Honeymoon.  Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. ECCLESIASTES 9:9  Solomon had man many honeymoons—to the debasement of his kingdom. He treated himself to hundreds of wives and concubines. Now, at the end of his life, he wishes he had lavished all his love on the wife of his youth. A man who had hundreds of wives now speaks in the singular rather than the plural. One partner, one heart. Your husband or wife should be looked upon as a treasure from heaven, prepared for your joy, to serve and to be served. There are moments of irritation and seasons of discontent, but remember those are days and seasons we have but once. Why not let each day be as joyful as your honeymoon? Marital fulfillment is a choice, so choose to live and love joyfully.

4. Work As If It Were Your Final Workday. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. —ECCLESIASTES 9:10