A WISE MAN LOOKS AT DEATH!
Ecclesiastes 12:1-14
INTRODUCTION: For a Christian there no be no fear in life or in death: 2 Timothy 1:7. Many people, even many Christians fear death. You do know that whether afraid of dying or not, death is inevitable: Hebrews 9:27. We have the answer to the fear of life and of death: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57. Today we will look at a very wise man as he looked at death. That man is King Solomon as he looked at death and how to properly prepare for death and consider the reality of our own death one day. As we age we go from reading the sports page first to reading the obituary pages first. Billy Graham said “death is 100% total in every generation” and that is exactly right. Solomon said: Ecclesiastes 7:3. When we deal with the subject of death it is a time to be serious.
I. A WISE MAN CONSIDERS THE REALITIES OF DEATH!
From a practical point of view, Solomon tells us that death is inevitable: Ecclesiastes 2:16. Death truly is the great equalizer of all people. Solomon tells us this life is not the one we should be focused on because it is too temporary. We need to focus on the life to come because it is eternal. Ecclesiastes 12:3: these physical bodies we have will disintegrate eventually. Solomon said death is unknowable: Ecclesiastes 3:22. Solomon sought his happiness in this world. He looked to his work as a great builder but he found no satisfaction from his work. Science cannot answer the question for us: “Is there life after death for mankind?” Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. That is a natural view of death. A WISE MAN CONSIDERS GOD’S REVELATION OF DEATH!
A wise man considers God’s revelation of death, not just what we can figure out by our own observations. Solomon said when I looked at life from what I can observe death is depressing. But when I look at dead form God’s point of view it brings delight! Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 is the dark view of death. He says enjoy your life because when it is over it is over! In the New Testament we see that there are two places mankind goes to after death: heaven and hell. But even Solomon at the end of Ecclesiastes states that there is life after death: Ecclesiastes 12:7. When we look at life beyond death we see there will be a place of separation from God for all eternity: 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. Paul says when the Lord Jesus comes, those without Christ as their Savior are going to a place of everlasting darkness. Luke 16:22-23: the torments of hell involve separation from God: Luke 16:23-24. In the Bible the word “death” means “separation.” Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:27-31. However, there is also the promise in Scripture of eternal life in heaven: John 14:1-6. What will the Father’s house be like? Revelation 7:13-17.
II. A WISE MAN CONSIDERS THE MANY DELIGHTFUL RESULTS BEYOND DEATH!
Then a wise man considers the delightful results beyond death. If we are wise we want to see delight beyond our death. Our Lord Jesus Christ will totally destroy death one day. 2 Timothy 1:10. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we will win the battle over death: 1 Corinthians 15:57. Because we believe these things to be true we invest in eternity by treasuring up those things that are in heaven: Romans 8:16-17. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ! Hebrews 1:1-2.