“The Reality of Time”
INTRO
Brush with death?
One cannot read Ecclesiastes without sensing he has had his brush with death
-or maybe this is a man in his older age—staring at its edge
-for death is a subject that haunts him through out the book
-haunt—because death is the great intruder
-death is the result of the Fall—the consequence of man choosing sin
-it is the painful reminder that humanity has been cut off from the tree of life
-we universally deny the thought of death—fill ourselves with a thousand distractions to avoid the subject
-affluence and comforts contribute to a sense of deferred death—even illusions of immortality
-we might even assume that if we can put it off long enough—maybe it won’t happen
-but Qoheleth won’t allow this—he confronts us head on with mortality’s reality often
-and here in chap 9—he does it again
-in the first six verses—he again declares that life is brief, fragile
-that our times are in the hand of God-vs 1
-that none of us knows what awaits us-vs 2
-but this we know for sure—we all have an appointment with the grave
vs 3-“the same destiny takes us all”
-so--better then to be a live mutt than a dead king of the jungle-vs 4
-the fact you have life means—take heart!
-for in contrast to the dead—you still have time
-and this is the point of the book!
Behind just about every theme is this realization that time passes—no matter who we are, what we do
-and it passes quickly—time slips though our fingers and escapes all efforts to manage it
-hence the use of hebel—vapor—some thirty times in the book
-life is hebel hebelim—vapor of vapors—his opening statement
-a way of saying our season on earth is less substantial than steam
-one can hear the Psalmist echoing in the background—
“As for man, his days are as grass,
-he flourishes like a flower of the field
-the wind blows over it and it is gone
-and its place remembers it no more (103:15-16)
-so how should we respond? What must we do?
-feel discouraged, morose, depressed?
-it’s actually quite the opposite (read vss 7-10a)
-this is God’s clarion call—DON’T LET TIME SLIP BY UNNOTICED!
-if we have heard this before—it’s because we have
-Solomon regularly punctuates the book with these words—this is the fifth of the carpe diem passages (2:24; 3:12; 5:18; 8:15)
-and while there are similarities—the tone here is sharper
Solomon moves to imperatives, giving urgency to the point
-there is a great commission of sorts—GO!
-take hold of the possibilities!
-embrace the good in life before it is too late—seize the moment before
death seizes you
-here again—Solomon is teaching us something many of us need to grasp
-that time is our most valuable possession, our most precious commodity
-it passes whether we choose to spend it or not
-we cannot regain what was misspent—so—
1-TAKE DELIGHT IN THE SIMPLE-vss 7-8
-in your meals—don’t consign them to mere replacement of spent fuel
-eat in gladness-drink with a pleasant heart
-put on your best clothes, your best face, your best lotions, your best fragrance
-after all—this comes from God (2:24)
-MORE--such delight is approved by God!-vs 7b
-something some of us cannot grasp
-as McManus puts it—many think spirituality is a journey toward numbness—a calling to be spiritual sourpusses
The reality is—according to Solomon—according to the whole of Scripture--joy is what demonstrates true spirituality
-it is what authenticates our faith—at times our greatest apologetic to an unbelieving world
-it is what gets us through the night
-life is brief--don’t waste the moments—don’t waste relationships
2-LOVE THOSE GOD HAS BROUGHT INTO YOUR LIFE-vs 9
-enjoy those God has invited you to love
-relationships—especially marriages--were never designed to be tolerated, endured
-for in this fleeting life—they represent our portion—our gift allotted from
God
-so take—receive—enjoy
-and when it comes to life’s endeavors—
3-GO WITH YOUR STRENGTHS-vs 10a
-live out your gifts—seize the opportunities
-don’t mark time--approach life half-heartedly
-as CS Lewis put it—
“None of us know the play—whether we are in Act I or Act V. We know a
few of the characters. The Author will have something to say to us on the
part we played—the playing it well is what matters”
In his “You’re Always in Season”, Hybels notes that it is critical we live in the season we’re in
-we may be in a season of growth—maybe a season of consolidation—transition, malaise, reinvention—whatever—grab it—change it
-give voice to the realities of that season—assign language to it, develop parameters to survive it, offer solutions to move through it
-do it with your strength—give everything to what is in front of you
-occasionally Jesus would turn to His disciples and say something like He
spoke in John 9:4-“As long as it is day, we must do God’s work”
-I have come that you might have life—and have it abundantly—LIVE IT
OUT!
Solomon wants to make sure we know why—(read vss 10b-12)
1-DEATH BRINGS TIME TO AN END
-the passing of time means the passing of certain opportunities
-Solomon is not denying a future state—life on the other side
-but he is warning us that particular earthly activities will not happen on the other side
-it’s only in this life—in time—can you do them
-enjoy your spouse—for marriage is not part of eternity
-invest in the kingdom now—for you can’t do it on the other side
-enjoy your work—for what we do on the other side will be different
-if you’re a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a dentist—go for it now—you’ll be out of work on the other side
-if you’re an lawyer, a psychologist, a teacher—there will be no need for your expertise
-if you’re a pastor—you will be absolutely useless in heaven
-so—go for it now!!
-seize your moments--
2-TIME HAS ITS UNPREDICTABILITIES-vss 11-12
-life is defined by the unexpected
-it is not the clear roadmap Proverbs seems to suggest
-no matter who you are—fast, rich, powerful, clever
-your wisdom and might and talent and wealth—while they enhance the prospect of success—do not guarantee it
-for things happen that are unforeseen, beyond control
-the swift may win the race—they may not make it to the end
-skills and efforts do matter—but time and events (calamities) will rule the outcome
-and no one knows when
-the fish may swim merrily, the birds may fly effortlessly
-and be entrapped in a moment
-and it can feel that way for us!
-the words go against so much of what culture tells us
-that we can define and shape ourselves and determine our destiny
-but this is a myth
-the promise of control is a seductive one
-in a world conceited about itself and its achievements
-the reality is--success is not ours to command
-we are not gods who control events—but mortals who are desperate for
God
-it’s not in man to direct his steps-Jer 10:23
-we are swung by tidal forces we do not control
-this week has underscored this to me and my family!
-death can come unexpectedly—that puts an end to one’s ability to enjoy life, go after dreams, fulfill one’s purpose
-what we can hold on to is God’s providence
CONCLUSION
This is your moment—right now
-this is where the past and the future collide
-and moments have the possibility of being ignored—as well as the opportunities within them
-but they also have the possibility of being seized—with the potential to change life forever
-so what are you doing with them?
