Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. And all that we do and all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. Thank you for continuing on in our wisdom for life's journey, devotions from Ecclesiastes. As I take your Bibles over to the book of Ecclesiastes, we're going to be talking about the inevitable end. Here is the fourth in our series. wisdom for life's journey, devotions from Ecclesiastes. You know the book of Ecclesiastes answers life's biggest questions. What's the meaning of life? How can we find contentment in uncertain times? And how do we navigate a world full of both beauty and brokenness? And so it unpacks a timeless wisdom, guiding us towards God's purpose for our lives. And it reveals how wealth, pleasure, and toil can point us to true fulfillment in our relationship with God. Each devotion connects us to lessons to our everyday lives highlighting God's sovereignty and the value of time and the joy of his gifts. With these we see that will be facing doubt, longing for peace, searching for direction, as we see life from God's eternal perspective, as these devotions encourage us to live with faith, trust, and purpose. And so, as we look at the word of God, amen, Ecclesiastes chapter 12, excuse me, chapter two, verses 12 through 16 tells us, and I turned myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the man do that cometh after the king, even that which hath been already done? Then I saw that wisdom exceleth folly, as far as light exceleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walketh in darkness, and I myself perceived also that one event happened to them all. Then said I in my heart, as it happened to the fool, so it happened even to me. And why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity, for there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing, that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten and how doth the wise man as the fool. Then we look and we see that here he's reflecting on the wisdom compared to foolishness. Wisdom is better than foolishness. Both the wise and the foolish face the same fate, which is what? Death. But the reality points to the limitations of earthly achievements. emphasizing the need for eternal significance. Secondly, we read 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 50 down to verse 58, that Paul says, now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doeth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory. through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. And then my third scripture, not only Ecclesiastes chapter two, First Corinthians chapter 15, but lastly, Romans chapter six, one verse, Romans 6.23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, we come before you with our hearts open to your word to teach us to navigate life's uncertainties and the inevitability of death with wisdom and faith. We thank you for the gift of eternal life. through our Lord and Savior Jesus, who's conquered death, plucked the stinger right out, given us hope, and now we trust you as the anchor of our souls. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen. You know, life often feels cynical, like the teacher's reflections in the book of Ecclesiastes. For those who've endured grief or trauma, the process isn't linear, it comes in waves and sometimes unexpectedly. But Ecclesiastes chapter two, verses 12 through 16 captures the pattern of the teacher wrestling with life's ultimate equalizer, death. And despite wisdom and accomplishments, The teacher recognizes that they share the same fate as the fool, and the sobering truth leads us to reflect on life's meaning, our mortality, and God's provision for eternal hope. And so, when we look at this, first of all, when we look at the inevitable end that all of us are going through today, we realize that a story from Paul Harvey that recounts the tale of an elderly candle maker who spent their entire life perfecting his craft. At his death, his family discovered a box that was in his workshop labeled My Life's Work. Inside were dozens of candles, each beautifully crafted but unused. A handwritten note that said this in the box that was labeled My Life's Work. It said, these candles were made for light, but never fulfilled their purpose. This story illustrates the reading of Ecclesiastes chapter two, verses 12 through 16, when Solomon wrestles with the futility of wisdom and toll when faced with the same fate. The inevitability of death, and like the candle makers' candles, a life that focused only on earthly achievements, it ends in darkness unless it's lit by the eternal light of Christ. Because I'm glad that each and every one of us, when we were reading As Solomon said, I turn myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the man doeth that cometh after the king? You know, I'm glad that, first of all, when we look at the sobering truth that reflects life's meaning, our mortality, and God's provision for eternal hope, the very first thing that we see of the inevitable end of Two destinies. First of all, the reality of mortality. The teacher wrestles with the inevitability of death, a fate that comes to both the wise and it comes to the foolish. Because death as the great equalizer itself. Because when we look and we realize That from the perspective of this, that each and every one of us as we go through life today, We look and we see that what he's talking to us about here is the death as that great equalizer. In Ecclesiastes chapter two, verse 14, the wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkness, and I myself perceive also that one event happens to them all. Wisdom may give an advantage in life, but it cannot shield us from death. And so when we look and realize that everything that's taking place, when we Look at Ecclesiastes, it shows us the inevitability of death for all regardless of being wise or foolish. Romans reminds us that sin is the cause of death, but it points to the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. But I'm glad 1 Corinthians gives us the promise that death's power is temporarily because Christ will be raised to eternal life and victory. You know, as I look at Ecclesiastes chapter 2 verses 12 through 16, Solomon reflects on that wisdom and that foolishness. And it leads to the question, the value of human effort and knowledge if they ultimately end in the same destiny. While wisdom is better than foolishness in life, the ultimate worth depends on a relationship with God. Without eternity in view, all human achievements and wisdom seem futile. And so, when we look at the word wisdom that is used, in the scriptures, amen, especially as he says, and I turn myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly. The word wisdom, the Hebrew word is kathma, kathma, and it refers to a skill in living according to God's will. You see, wisdom in Jewish thought is referred to as skill. The wisdom of Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon's lament here contrasts wisdom with its inability to conquer death. And so the Hebrew word wisdom is kathma. But again, the breath and the vanity of the hevil, the hevil, which is vanity, He's talking about the filling of a vapor, of like chasing the wind, and it's the metaphor of futility, of uselessness that we see, that we read. And so when we look and realize that through the ability, the reality of mortality, death as that great equalizer that we see, not only in Ecclesiastes 2, verse 14, where wisdom gives an advantage in life, but it cannot yield us from death. We also see the struggle with foolishness and futility, because in Ecclesiastes 2, verse 16, for there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing that which is now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. The teacher laments the transcendence of human legacy that no matter how wise, no matter how accomplished, all will eventually be forgotten. And so the reality of mortality, death as the great equalizer, the struggle with futility, but also, thirdly, we acknowledge the pain of this truth. The teacher doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of mortality because it's natural to mourn the seeming injustice of death. Psalms 90 verse 12 says, so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. We've got to be able to reflect on how the certainty of death shapes your priorities. Are you living for what really truly matters? And so we see that when it comes down to the inevitable end, we see the reality of mortality. But secondly, the futility of life under the sun. Without God, even the best life is ultimately meaningless. And so we see that in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 50 through 58, Paul addresses the resurrection and explains that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Through Jesus Christ, believers gain victory over sin and death. This passage offers us hope. It emphasizes the transformation that will occur in the resurrection. But death is not the end for believers. It's the beginning of eternal victory through Christ. This truth gives purpose to our labor for the Lord, as it has eternal value. And so, when we look, we see some words that really stand out that he's talking about, because as he's talking about being imperishable, in verses 50 through 58, one of the words that's used is the word imperishable. And the Greek word is atapharsi. After pharisee, it refers to the incorruptible nature of a resurrected body. Paul is contrasting this with the mortal and the perishable nature of the present body, emphasizing the eternal state that believers will inherit. Ain't you glad that there is an eternal state? And what am I saying? The soul that is in you is gonna be somewhere's forever. It's gonna be in the depths of hell where it will burn or it will be in the presence of God in heaven where it will live forever. But it will never die, it will be somewhere's. The imperishable, the atrophicy, the Greek word for it. And so I'm glad that one of the things that we read was about how that we can have victory and all that we're doing, praise God, because he said, death is swallowed up in victory. Oh, death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is, where is death? as we, oh great, where is thy victory? And so the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. And so the Greek word for victory is nikos. And in the Greek culture, it signified triumph in the battle or competition. Paul was using it to celebrate Christ's triumph over death, granting victory to all who believe, amen. And then I'm glad that each and every one of us when we look and realize that we've got to be steadfast in all that we do. Steadfast because I'm glad that he said, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord in 1 Corinthians. The Greek word for in vain is kainos. And it declares that our labor in the Lord is not kainos, it's not empty, or purposeless, because it carries an eternal significance. Amen? And so, I'm glad that every one of us, when we look and realize that the futility of life under the sun, here we begin to realize that the greatest blessing uh... that uh... without god even the best life is ultimately meaningless amen the cycle of life and loss as ecclesiastes portrays life as repetitive and unsatisfying apart from god paul said in romans eight twenty that it reminds us for the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope other words god's design leads us through futility to dependence on him. So the futility of life under the sun is that cycle of life and loss, but also the search for meaning. Because Ecclesiastes 2.15, Then said I in my heart, As it happened to the fool, so it happened even to me. And why was I then more wise? You see, human wisdom and effort They're powerless to solve the ultimate questions of life and death. And so the futility of life under the sun, the cycle of life and loss, the search for meaning, but also thirdly God's sovereign plan because despite life cycles, God has a purpose for everything. In Ecclesiastes chapter three, verse one, to everything there's a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. In our times of despair, we turn to God for meaning and trust in his eternal plan. And so, as we look and we see that as we go through life, we see that first of all, the reality of mortality, second, the futility of life under the sun, but thirdly, we see hope beyond the grave. because I'm glad that as we said in Romans chapter 6 verse 23, for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And I'm glad that when we look and we realize that what it means, Paul says the wages of sin, which is death, with the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ. And it highlights the consequences of sin and the grace of God. You see, eternal life is a gift. It's not earned by works, but it's given through faith in Christ. Sin leads to a spiritual death, but salvation brings eternal life. And so what did I read that I said it's what? He says it's the wages of sin. And so as we look back and we realize that the wages of sin is death, The Greek word for wages is opsonion. In Roman times, opsonion referred to a payment that was given to the soldiers, and Paul used that term to emphasize that sin earns a payment, death, but God offers life freely through grace. And so, for the wages of sin is death, amen. But the gift of God, listen, the Greek word for gift is karismath. is derived from uh... cameras which is the word grace and it underscores that salvation is an unearned favor from god that's freely given out of love and so i'm glad for the wages of sin is dead but the gift of god is eternal life and the greek word for eternal life is so a all on the shelves Zo is the word for life in Greek. It's paired with aeonos, which means eternal, that describes the abundant, everlasting life that is found only in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise His mighty name. And so, I'm glad that we look and we see that here, through the inevitable end, that we see that there's the reality of mortality, the futility of life under the sun, but as I was saying, the hope beyond the grave, because the teacher, the writer, Solomon, acknowledges life's futility under the sun, but he points us to the eternal hope found in God. Christ is victory over death. As 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 54 and 55 that we read, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? You see, through Christ's resurrection. Death is defeated and life gains eternal purpose. There is hope beyond the grave because of Christ's victory over death, but it is the gift of eternal life for the wages of sin, Romans 6.23. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Unlike all of the pursuits of life, God's gift of salvation endures forever and ever and ever, though the hope That's beyond the grave, Christ's victory over death, the gift of eternal life. But thirdly, a call to trust in Christ, because the teacher of Ecclesiastes reflects and he urges us to anchor our lives in a relationship with God. In the New Testament of John chapter 14, verse six, he said something like this, out of the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Through Christ, we are rescued from the meaningless fate of death. Here, as we talk about the inevitable end, have you ever placed your trust in Jesus? His victory over death offers the only true hope for life and eternity. And so, as we go through life today, each of us looking at the stories and we see in J.R.R. Token's The Two Towers, Sam Wise Gambity reflects on some of those stories because he says Folks in those stories had lots of chances to turn back, only they didn't because they were holding on to something that there's some good in this world and it's worth fighting for. But it echoes in the two towers of JRR Tokens, the two towers of what I read in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 50 through 58. Paul reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain because the ultimate victory over death is already secured through Christ. And like Sam Wise that was reflecting back on these stories, we hold on to the eternal promise of resurrection, knowing that our struggles and our service are a part of a much greater story that we'll ever have. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, he said this, if you read history, you'll find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they become so ineffective in this, unquote. And so, what was C.S. Lewis talking about eternity? He was emphasizing what Paul said in Romans 6.23, which is a part of the Romans road that emphasizes the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus because that's our true inheritance as men and women of God. We focus on eternity that reshapes our priorities and it gives meaning to our labor right here on earth. You know, in the book, The Alchemist by Paolo Accolio, a ferryman teaches us a story about a boy and about balance in the ferryman's lesson. He advises the boy to keep his eyes on the horizon while attending to each step because without balance, the boy risks stumbling or losing sight of his goal. That's a message that we're reading here in the book of Ecclesiastes, also in 1 Corinthians. Because when we live wisely, when we work diligently on earth while keeping eternity in focus, the lesson is clear, death comes to us all. But for believers, it leads to victory and not to defeat. And so, I'm glad that, have you placed your trust in Jesus? His victory over death offers the only hope for life and eternity. The teacher's reflection on the mortality is a sobering reminder that life without God is ultimately futile. And yet through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, were rescued from the despair of death and given the promise of eternal life. As we navigate the cycles of life, let us anchor our hope in God's eternal plan and trust in his saving grace. You know what? For the application How do we face mortality with purpose when we look at our outline that we said earlier? What was our outline? Well, our outline, when we look back at it, it was teaching us as the inevitable end that we saw It was telling us that as we look for the reasons in this life to be able to go forward and take the wonderful word of God, when we do that, I'm glad one of the great things was we started out, we talked about the reality of mortality. And we talked about the futility of life under the sun. And then we talked about the hope beyond the grave. When we face mortality with purpose, Solomon's reflection on that wisdom apart from God reminds us to focus on the eternal significance. We're in a culture of the world today that is obsessed with status and success, but we must ask, what legacy are we leaving behind? Is it temporal wealth or is it an eternal impact? And so we face mortality with a purpose, but also there's hope in the resurrection because in a world that is increasingly plagued by fear of death, Paul's triumphant declaration of victory through Jesus offers us hope. And that victory empowers us to labor for God's kingdom, knowing that our efforts have eternal value. And so, we've gotta commit to work that has a lasting impact, serving others, sharing the gospel, investing in our relationships. And so, as we see, apply this, we face mortality with a purpose, we have hope in the resurrection, but also, in closing, we receive the gift of life that Paul said in Romans 6.23. You see, society views eternal life as a reward for good deeds, but Paul flips that And he shows that eternal life is nothing but a free gift through Christ. When we embrace the gift of salvation, step out on faith, take God at his word, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and share this good news with those who are spiritually lost. That is what makes the change. You know, imagine two gardens. One is meticulously tended, but it's destined for a barren winter. The other is seemingly dormant, but preparing to bloom in the spring. Both of these gardens face the same harsh season, but only one of them will hold the promise of a new life. This parallels the two destinies. one then ending in futility without God, according to Ecclesiastes 2, verses 12 through 16, and the other flourishing into eternal life through Christ in Romans 6.23. And so, when we look, as Paul Harvey would say, and now you know the rest of the story, Death is inevitable, but through Christ, it becomes a doorway to victory. The inevitable end that we see that all of us have. And so I'm glad it's a reminder that life without God is ultimately a waste. And yet through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, we're rescued from the despair of death and given the promise of eternal life. As we navigate the cycles of life, we anchor our hope in God's eternal plan and trust in his saving grace. Father, thank you for conquering death, offering us eternal life, teaching us to number our days wisely, to live for what truly matters, and to trust in you for salvation. Because Lord, in life's uncertainties today, may we find hope, and peace in your promises. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we pray. Amen. you