Ecc9:1-10 Fate (3/4)

# Fate

## Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
### The Search for Meaning (3/4)

[Neil Thomas](https://unsplash.com/photos/bSYRuzEaT5k "caption")

---

1. *Sat pm:* What is **Wisdom**? [(ch1)](# "ref")
1. *Sun am:* Is there meaning 
 in **Ambition** + **Money**? [(ch2,5)](# "ref")
1. *Sun pm:* What is the **Fate** of mankind? [(ch9)](# "ref")
1. *Mon am:* What is the meaning of **Life**? [(ch12)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Sol's **search** for meaning / purpose
+ tried **pleasure, projects, possessions**
  + what is **crooked** cannot be straightened
+ tried **wisdom** + **folly**
  + wisdom: only more **frustration**
  + folly: **harms** self
+ tonight: recurring theme in Eccl
  + inevitability of **death**
+ Sol **blessed** by God w/wisdom
  + Eccl all **true** Word of God
+ but **incomplete** bc Sol did not have
  + hope of **resurrection**

---

# What is our **fate**?

>>>
+ who can **tell** us where we go **after** death?

******
[1](# "ref")
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.

[2](# "ref")
It is the same for all, since the same event 
happens to the righteous and the wicked,

[Ecclesiastes 9:1a,2a (ESV) (p.1/5)](# "ref")

******
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.

[Ecclesiastes 9:3 (ESV) (p.2/5)](# "ref")

******
[4](# "ref")
But he who is joined with all the living 
has hope, 
for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

[5](# "ref")
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.

[Ecclesiastes 9:4-5 (ESV) (p.3/5)](# "ref")

******
[9](# "ref")
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, 
all the days of your vain life 
that he has given you under the sun,

because that is your portion in life 
and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

[Ecclesiastes 9:9 (ESV) (p.4/5)](# "ref")

******
[10](# "ref")
Whatever your hand finds to do, 
do it with your might,

for there is no work or thought or knowledge 
or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

[Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV) (p.5/5)](# "ref")

---

## Fate [(Ecc9)](# "ref")
1. **Hope** in Life [(v1-3)](# "ref")
2. An Opportunity for **Change** [(v4-6)](# "ref")
3. **Triumph** Over the Grave [(v7-10)](# "ref")

>>>
+ we don't like to **think** about death
  + few Chinese write **wills**
+ but ch7 tells us it is **good** to:

---

The heart of the **wise** 
is in the house of **mourning**,

but the heart of **fools** 
is in the house of **mirth**.

[Ecclesiastes 7:4 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Yuriria, Mexico.  Cristian Newman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Zi8-E3qJ_RM "caption")

>>>
+ house of **mourning**:
  + think about, **prepare** for death
+ house of **mirth**:
  + **ignore** death
  + **distract** self
+ again in **v2** of same ch:

---

It is better to go to the house of **mourning** 
than to go to the house of **feasting**,

for this is the **end** of all mankind, 
and the **living** will lay it to **heart**.

[Ecclesiastes 7:2 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")
[Yuriria, Mexico.  Cristian Newman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Zi8-E3qJ_RM "caption")

>>>
+ **young** people: death is **far** off
  + worry about it **later**
+ but **none** of us know when
  + our **hour** will come (v12)
+ all the **living** should pay attention
+ Sol's observation in **today's** passage:

---

It is the **same** for all, since the same event 
happens to the **righteous** and the **wicked**,

[Ecclesiastes 9:2 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Silverthorne, CO. Nathan Anderson](https://unsplash.com/photos/mKA3VavSuaI "caption")

>>>
+ from Sol's perspective, only sees up to **death**
  + not **beyond** death
+ so it looks like the **same** fate for all
  + **righteous** or evil
  + **religious** or not
  + **frugal** with money or profligate
+ so does it **matter** if one is good?
+ the **default** path of the heart
  + is toward **evil**:

---

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**.

[Ecclesiastes 9:3 (ESV)](# "ref")
[San Diego, US. Tyler Mullins](https://unsplash.com/photos/Zldz46wahbE "caption")

>>>
+ given **freedom** of choice, we choose
  + **evil**: wrong, corrupt
  + **madness**: insane, irrational
+ in **ch3** Sol goes even **further**
  + compares us to the **animals**:

---

I said to myself concerning the sons of **men**, 
“God has surely **tested** them in order 
for them to see that they are but **beasts**.”

For the **fate** of the sons of men 
and the fate of beasts is the **same**.

[Ecclesiastes 3:18-19 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Flängan, Norberg. Adam Morse](https://unsplash.com/photos/M7fi58_dF5k "caption")

>>>
+ if our only **hope** is in **this** life,
  + how do we **differ** from animals?
+ we know how to use **tools**?
  + how to **write**?
  + how to **care** for our loved ones?
+ **animals** do all that, too!
+ if we are only **evolved** monkeys,
  + is **human** life any more precious
  + than a **dog**, or **bird**, or **ant**?

---

# What are my **hopes** for myself and my loved ones?

>>>
+ only **natural** to hope for
  + a **peaceful** / quiet life
  + **health** + prosperity
  + happy **marriage**
  + see **kids** marry well
+ but if all my hopes are only in **this** life
  + what will **happen** after we **die**?

---

## Fate [(Ecc9)](# "ref")
1. Hope in Life [(v1-3)](# "ref")
2. **An Opportunity for Change** [(v4-6)](# "ref")
3. Triumph Over the Grave [(v7-10)](# "ref")

>>>
+ if **all** die eventually,
+ is **life** any better than **death**?

---

But he who is joined with all the **living** 
has **hope**, 
for a **living dog** is better than a **dead lion**.

[Ecclesiastes 9:4 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Highclere Castle, UK](https://unsplash.com/photos/c8ET5XvBwnU "caption")

>>>
+ "dead lion": famous **historical** people
  + performed **great** deeds while alive
  + fought **wars**, establish **gov**
  + now? only in **textbooks**
+ better to be a **living dog**:
  + perhaps small, insignificant
+ but if there is **life**, there is **hope**
  + hope for **what**?
+ not just the **anticipation** of death
+ take **action**, make **change** in life
  + a chance to **call upon** to God
  + Isaiah 55:

---

**Seek** the LORD while He may be **found**; 
**call upon** Him while He is **near**;

Let the **wicked** forsake his **way**; 
and the **unrighteous** man his **thoughts**;

[Isaiah 55:6-7a (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Mark Basarab](https://unsplash.com/photos/1k5Qq4YQM0g "caption")

>>>
+ **life** is a chance to take **action**
  + **turn** to God, draw close to Him
+ recognise our old way of living was **wrong**:
  + habits / **behaviour** (way)
  + and **thinking** / priorities

---

Let him **return** to the LORD, 
that He may have **compassion** on him,

and to our God, for He will abundantly **pardon**.

[Isaiah 55:7b (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")
[Mark Basarab](https://unsplash.com/photos/1k5Qq4YQM0g "caption")

>>>
+ **return**: not a **foreign** / Western religion
+ God is the **Creator** of all mankind
  + has **loved** us, **provided** for us
  + turning to Him is coming **home**
+ He **welcomes** us and will **heal** our wounds
+ **confess** our sins, and He will **forgive**
+ e.g., JJ sharing **gospel** with grandpa
  + **narrow way** to life, broad way to death
  + "grandpa, will you **repent**?"
  + "ah, let me **think** about it"
  + "ok, I give you til **tomorrow morning**"
+ we are **impatient** for others to change
  + but change need not require much **time**
  + just a **willing** heart
+ e.g., after **long time** wandering from God
  + how **long** before He **accepts** me back?
  + the moment I **start** to pray
  + **immediately** He pardons, has **compassion**

---

# Is there **hope** that I can **change**?
# That my **loved ones** can change?

>>>
+ where there is **life**, there is **hope**
+ can still take **action**
+ **seek** the Lord, **call** upon His name
+ turn **away** from being **boss** of own life
+ **return** to our Creator
+ He will have **compassion** and **forgiveness**

---

## Fate [(Ecc9)](# "ref")
1. Hope in Life [(v1-3)](# "ref")
2. An Opportunity for Change [(v4-6)](# "ref")
3. **Triumph Over the Grave** [(v7-10)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Sol recognised God's sovereign **authority**
+ but not God's **compassion** + healing
+ if we know God brings **new life**
  + both in **heaven** and right **now**
+ how does that **change** our **work**?
  + how we spend our **time** on earth?

---

Whatever your **hand** finds to do, 
do it with your **might**,

for there is no **work** or **thought** or knowledge 
or wisdom in **Sheol**, to which you are going.

[Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Milada Vigerova](https://unsplash.com/photos/iQWvVYMtv1k "caption")

>>>
+ will dwell on this more **tomorrow**
+ Sol's **motivation** is imminence of
  + the **grave** (Sheol, death: not hell)
+ but if there is no **life** after death,
  + then even our **faith** in Jesus is futile:

---

If Christ has **not** been raised, 
your faith is **futile** and you are still in your **sins**.

Then those also who have 
**fallen asleep** in Christ have **perished**.

If in Christ we have hope in **this life** only, 
we are of all people most to be **pitied**.

[1 Corinthians 15:17-19 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. © 2008 Ian Britton, CC-BY-NC 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/2552357124 "caption")

>>>
+ if no **resurrection**, then we are
+ just nice **moral** people
  + but ultimately no **better** than others
  + still will **die** in our sins
+ and have even preached **lies** about God
+ saying that God **raised** Jesus from dead
+ but:

---

But in fact Christ has been 
**raised** from the dead, 
the **firstfruits** of those who have fallen **asleep**.

For as by a man came **death**, 
by a man has come also 
the **resurrection** of the dead.

For as in **Adam** all **die**, 
so also in **Christ** shall all be made **alive**.

[1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. © 2008 Ian Britton, CC-BY-NC 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/2552357124 "caption")

>>>
+ **firstfruits**: first, best of the harvest
+ God demonstrated **authority** over life/death
  + Christ **triumphed** over death
+ **first** to be raised from dead
  + and **we** who trust in Him will **follow**!
+ **Adam**: first man, first **sin**
+ God **told** him what was right/wrong (**law**)
  + Adam **rejected** it
  + wanted to **decide** for self
+ **death** came as **penalty** for sin
+ **Christ** paid that penalty for us
  + then gave us **new life**

---

# Is there **life** after **death**?

>>>
+ is the **resurrection** real?
+ if Jesus was **not** raised, then
  + he was only a good **teacher**
  + but ultimately only **human**
+ and there is **no hope** for us, either
+ if he **was** raised, then
  + He has **authority** over life/death
  + He is our only **hope** of salvation

---

---

## 1. What are my **hopes** for myself and my loved ones?
## 2. Is there **hope** that I or they can **change**? [(Is55:7-11)](# "ref")
## 3. Is there **life** after **death**? [(1Cor15:17-22)](# "ref")