The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 49 Death And Judgment Comes To All People.

This section began with the command to cast our bread upon the waters, which connects with sowing seed in rice patties. 

This is a metaphor for being generous in giving to those who are in need, for God has blessed us in order to help others.

Solomon compared this with rain clouds that reach a point of fulness then the rain is released. God sends His rain on the good and the bad people alike. 

A Christian should also support his or her local church, and give to those who are truly needy, to the best of his or her ability. 

Then, Solomon compared a tree that is leaning in one direction to death. If the tree leans toward the south, that is the direction that it will all.

This too, is a picture of our spiritual condition. Are we walking closely with the Lord, in the light of His Word? Are we worshipping, witnessing and working for our God? 

If our affection is set on the things of God in heaven, when we die, this will be our happy joy when we are absent from our body and present with the Lord. 

We do not know what God is doing, so we must simply obey Him.

Ecclesiastes  11:5  As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 

Solomon continues to build these pictures for us, to help us see that it is best to focus on loving and serving God.

When we consider how many are born into poverty, into a life of suffering, or into a nation that is repressive, it overwhelms us. 

Only God knows why one child is born healthy and another is born with some kind of affliction. 

Only God knows why one child grows up with a hard heart, a mean spirit and a bullying attitude, while another child is tender hearted and loving.

No man can discern what God is doing or what His purpose is. Therefore, we ought to give our time, talents and resources to the things God has commanded us to do. 

Sow your seed by helping those in need, and let God receive the glory.

Ecclesiastes 11:6  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 

We must take heed to be prudent in relieving the poor. We do not want to give to someone who is lazy and seeking to live off the generosity of others. 

At the same time, we do not want to overlook  someone facing a true need. It may be that God has us at that place, at that point in time, to be the one who assists a person in need.

Therefore, sow our seed abundantly. We can sow the seed of the gospel of Christ. We can sow the seed of giving alms to the poor and afflicted. We can sow the seed of God's love working in us, to bless others. 

We do not know the outcome. Rather, whatever kind of seed we are sowing, we must trust God for the fruit that remains (See 1 Corinthians 3:7). 

Christ's sheep live by faith and do what God expects them to do. 

Matthew 25:31-40  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32)  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35)  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Jesus taught about the future Day of the LORD and final judgment (See Revelation 19-20). He described it as a judgment separating the sheep from the goats. 

This judgment day is also pictured in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30;36-43). It is also portrayed in the Parable of the Net (See Matthew 13:47-50). 

In each of these parables, there is a separation of the good from the bad, and the bad is cast into the fires of eternal judgment. The good are readily received by the Father in heaven, for eternity with God.

The sheep are placed at the right hand of Jesus Christ, the King. He invites them to inherit the kingdom of God that the Father prepared for them, from the foundation of the world.

God so loved the world, that He planned for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ before the world was made, and before any sin was in it. 

Not only did God love us and determine to save us before the world was created, He also prepared a heavenly kingdom for all who lived by faith, to inherit. The grace of God is limitless and wonderful beyond our ability to express it. 

What made the sheep special, such that they were called the blessed of the Father? The sheep are those who lived by faith and obeyed God, in every age and generation. 

What did they do? They simply did what God wanted them to do. They fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, provided housing for the strangers, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.

Acts of kindness the sheep did to people in distress, were noted by Jesus, as an indicator of loving God and loving their neighbors. 

A terrible fate awaits all of the unrighteous ones.

Matthew 25:41-46  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42)  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43)  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44)  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45)  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46)  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The fate of the goats is opposite from the welcome Christ will extend to His sheep.

The wicked will be cursed instead of blessed. They will be dismissed from Christ's presence and sent into everlasting fire. They will suffer eternal punishment for their sins.

The unrighteous did not do what God commanded them to do. God commands every person in every nation to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Those who do repent are regenerated by God's Spirit, while those who don't repent, die in their sins and face condemnation. 

We all cherish life but one day this life will end. Are we ready?

Ecclesiastes 11:7-8  Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8)  But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Solomon shows us how we should cherish the life that God gives us, and that we should use each day wisely, and do all things heartily as unto the Lord. 

Life is dear to every man, just as the light of the sun is precious to the eye. A man would give all that he has for his life, and it is particularly dear to him when he lives in ease.

Proverbs 15:30  The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 

Every person, no matter whether wealthy or poor, can wake up with rejoicing for another day of life and hope. 

Yet, even as we live to a ripe, old age, we must remember that the end of life may be filled with illness, uncertainty or other problems. 

Death will come and we will stand before God. Let us then, remember this truth and set our affection on the things of God each day that we live. 

Young people should flee sin and run to Jesus Christ for salvation.

Ecclesiastes11:9-10  Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10)  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. 

Solomon is not exalting youth. Rather, he is giving us a caution. A young person lack the depth and wisdom that life's experiences bring. 

Many times, young people think they are indestructible and never gets tired. They are prone to following the lusts of their flesh, and often pursue foolish ideas. 

Yet, the scriptures teach us that when we walk according to our own desires and lusts, the outcome will not be good. 

Solomon began writing this book from a perspective of living life according to the lust of one's flesh. Solomon started well as king, but he fell into idolatry and immorality later in life. Though he had thousands of concubines, he only had one son, and he was a hot headed fool.

Thus, Solomon reminds all people that one day, when we die we will give an account to God for the sins we committed. God is holy and He will judge sin. 

The sins of a Christian have been judged and paid for by Jesus Christ. His righteousness has been imputed to us, when we turn to Him with repentant faith.

But, the fate of an agnostic, an unbeliever or a Christ rejector is a terrible thing that awaits. When youth live for self, these are full of wasted years, and sins will bring sorrow when they are older. 

Therefore, Solomon counsels young people to stop sinning, and live according to God's Word.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Solomon expressed strong warning about future judgment by God for our sins. 

Acts 17:30-31  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  

God commands all men in every place to repent and turn with faith to believe on Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31).

The Father has appointed a day that only He knows, when He will send His Son, Jesus Christ to judge the whole world by His righteous standard. 

Romans 2:5-11  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6)  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7)  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8)  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9)  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10)  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11)  For there is no respect of persons with God. 

Those who have hard, unrepentant hearts are accumulating more of the wrath of God upon themselves each day that they sin. God is not mocked. He will judge all people for their sins. Whatever you sow in this life, is what you will reap in eternity.

If your life is full of sin and depravity, you can expect harsh judgment and eternal condemnation.

Yet, you can still hear the gospel of Christ, and respond with repentant faith. Jesus will save all who repent and call upon Him for salvation.

Those who turned to Christ, shall be delivered from wrath and condemnation. Those who turn away from Christ will suffer eternal condemnation.

What is God's heart toward mankind? He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentant faith in Christ (See 1 Peter 3:9-10). His will is that all people might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ (See 1 Timothy 2:4).

I hope and pray that each of you reading this blog, is born again into the family of God.

If you know that you are in need of salvation, please do not put it off. None of us are guaranteed that we will wake up tomorrow. Make this day, this moment, the day of your salvation. 

John 3:14-18  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.