Ecc9:1-10 Fate (4/5)

# Fate
## Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
### The Meaning of Life (4/5)

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

---

1. *Sat am:* **Introduction** to Ecclesiastes
1. *Sat pm:* Is there <br> meaning
  in **Ambition** + **Money**? [(ch2,5)](# "ref")
1. *Sun am:* What is **Wisdom**? [(ch1)](# "ref")
1. *Sun pm:* What is our **Fate**? [(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**?

[###](#/outline "secret")

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

---
[1](# "ref")
But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, <br>
how the righteous and the wise <br>
and their deeds are in the hand of God.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:1a (ESV/CUV) (p.1/7)](# "ref")

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

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:2a (ESV/CUV) (p.2/7)](# "ref")

---
Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil,<br>
and madness is in their hearts while they live, <br>
and after that they go to the dead.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:3 (ESV/CUV) (p.3/7)](# "ref")

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

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:4 (ESV/CUV) (p.4/7)](# "ref")

---
[5](# "ref")
For the living know that they will die, <br>
but the dead know nothing, <br>
and they have no more reward,<br>
for the memory of them is forgotten.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:5 (ESV/CUV) (p.5/7)](# "ref")

---
[9](# "ref")
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, <br>
all the days of your vain life <br>
that he has given you under the sun,<br>
because that is your portion in life <br>
and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:9 (ESV/CUV) (p.6/7)](# "ref")

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

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

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:10 (ESV/CUV) (p.7/7](# "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**,<br>
but the heart of **fools** is in the house of **mirth**.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 7:4 (ESV/CUV) (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**<br>
than to go to the house of **feasting**,

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

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 7:2 (ESV/CUV) (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 <br>
happens to the **righteous** and the **wicked**, <br>

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:2 (ESV/CUV)](# "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 <br>
are full of **evil**, <br>
and **madness** is in their hearts while they live, <br>
and after that they go to the **dead**.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:3 (ESV/CUV)](# "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**, <br>
“God has surely **tested** them in order  <br>
for them to see that they are but **beasts**.”

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 3:18 (ESV/CUV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Flängan, Norberg.  Adam Morse](https://unsplash.com/photos/M7fi58_dF5k "caption")

---

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

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 3:19 (ESV/CUV) (p.2/2)](# "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**, <br>
for a **living dog** is better than a **dead lion**.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:4 (ESV/CUV)](# "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**; <br>
**call upon** Him while He is **near**;

[7](# "ref")
Let the **wicked** forsake his **way**;<br>
and the **unrighteous** man his **thoughts**;

[Isaiah 以賽亞書 55:6-7a (ESV/CUV) (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, <br>
that He may have **compassion** on him,

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

[Isaiah 以賽亞書 55:7b (ESV/CUV) (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 <br>
or wisdom in **Sheol**, to which you are going.

[Ecclesiastes 傳道書 9:10 (ESV/CUV)](# "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:

---

[17](# "ref")
If Christ has **not** been raised, <br>
your faith is **futile** and you are still in your **sins**.

[18](# "ref")
Then those also who have <br>
**fallen asleep** in Christ have **perished**.

[18](# "ref")
就 是 在 基 督 裡 睡 了 的 人 也 滅 亡 了 。
</div>

[1 Corinthians 15:17-18 (ESV/CUV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. <br> © 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

---

[19](# "ref")
If in Christ we have hope in **this life** only, <br>
we are of all people most to be **pitied**.

[1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV/CUV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. <br> © 2008 Ian Britton, CC-BY-NC 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/2552357124 "caption")

>>>
+ and have even preached **lies** about God
+ saying that God **raised** Jesus from dead
+ but:

---

[20](# "ref")
But in fact Christ has been **raised** from the dead,<br>
the **firstfruits** of those who have fallen **asleep**.

[1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV/CUV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. <br> © 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**!

---

[21](# "ref")
For as by a man came **death**, by a man has come also<br>
the **resurrection** of the dead.

[22](# "ref")
For as in **Adam** all **die**,<br>
so also in **Christ** shall all be made **alive**.

[1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (ESV/CUV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. <br> © 2008 Ian Britton, CC-BY-NC 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/2552357124 "caption")

>>>
+ **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 / loved ones can **change**? [(Is55:7-11)](# "ref")
## 3. Is there **life** after **death**? [(1Cor15:17-22)](# "ref")