Dynamic Life Baptist Church

Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to pursue their destiny in light of the revelation of God, and not from a human view.

Sermon Proposition: There are 3 reasons why man’s destiny must be pursued in light of the revelation of God.

I.          God predetermines the events of life. V.1-9

A.        God appoints “seasons” and “times.” Earthly pursuits are good in their proper place and time, but unprofitable when pursued as the chief goal of life. V.1-8

B.        Earthly pursuits are unprofitable when considered as life’s chief good, which was never intended by God. V.9-10

II.        God predetermines the condition of life. V.10-15

            Everything – Every activity or event for which a culmination point may be fixed.

Beautiful – Fitting or appropriate. The phrase echoes “and God saw that it was good” Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Even in a cursed universe, activity should not be meaningless. Its futility lies in the fickle satisfaction of man and his failure to trust the wisdom of sovereign God.

            Put eternity into their hearts – God made men for His eternal purpose, and nothing in past – Full time can bring them complete satisfaction.

            V. 13 Enjoy the good of all his labor – In accepting everything as a gift of his creator, even in a cursed world, man is enabled to see “good” is all his work.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

Ecclesiastes 5:19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor -- this is the gift of God.

V.4 Fear before Him – Acknowledging God’s enduring and perfect work becomes grounds for reverence, worship, and meaning. Apart from God, man’s works are pitifully inadequate. The theme, “the fear of God also appears in:

Ecclesiastes 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.

Ecclesiastes 8:12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

III.       God judges all of life. V.16-22

            V.17 God shall judge . . . for there is a time – The culminating issue of Solomon’s “appointed time” discussion is that there is a time for judgment (John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.). God’s judgment is a central theme in Solomon’s message for this book. (Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.  12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.). Even where the word “judgment” is absent, the greater issue of divine retribution is often pervasive.

            V. 18-20 What happens – The ultimate fate of men and beast is to die. Solomon isn’t looking at eternal destinies, but rather at what all earthly flesh shares in common.

V. 21 The Spirit – Man’s breath or physical life appears on the surface to be little different than that of an animal. In reality, man’s soul differs in that God has made him eternal. Solomon’s view must be taken as a humanistic point of view not a doctrinal fact. It is human questioning, not divine certainty. From the New Testament, we know that the spirit and soul of the believer go to be with Christ at the time of death  (2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Philippians 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.) and his body goes to the grave (Acts 8:2). The spirit and soul of the unbeliever go to Hades and his body goes to the grave (Luke 16:22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.) When Christ comes in the air, the bodies of those who have died in faith will be raised in glorified form and reunited with the spirit and soul (Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.) The bodies of the unbelieving dead will be raised at the Great White Throne Judgment, reunited with the spirit and soul, then cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.). From what he knew about death, and also from what he didn’t know, Solomon figures that the best thing a man can do is enjoy his daily activities.