Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Now Is the Time

New Living Translation (Chapter 12)

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

New Living Translation (Chapter 12)

4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

New Living Translation (Chapter 12)

5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

New Living Translation (Chapter 12)

6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

“APART FROM GOD, LIFE HAS NO MEANING”

We know that we are creatures of time by the way we set our clocks and watches so that we will know what time it is. We have schedules and appointments set by dates on a calendar. We know larger amounts of time by measuring the months and years. We also know the seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. But perhaps time should be measured in more than hours, or days or years.

The Book of Ecclesiastes demonstrates the meaninglessness of a world view that does not press beyond the limits of human experience to include God. It seeks to show that meaningful satisfaction may be attained in a universe that seems to be nothing more than a succession of wearying cycles—a universe in which people are locked with no apparent means of escape.

The theme of the book is a search for the key to the meaning of life. The Preacher examines life from all angles to see where satisfaction can be found. He finds that God alone holds the key, and he must be trusted. Meanwhile we are to take life day by day from his hand, and glorify him in the ordinary things.[1]

[1] J. S. Wright, "Ecclesiastes, Book of" In , in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard et al., 3rd ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 288.

In chapter 3:1-15, “This poem speaks with eloquence of the role of time in the life of the believer. Some regard the Book of Ecclesiastes as describing life apart from God, but clearly this text describes life that is lived in relationship with God.

I. It’s time to discover your purpose. (1)

· The Hebrew in verse 1 refers to a specific moment rather than a period of time—denoting a predetermined purpose on which all things depend. Each human life has a span, and within its duration there are momentous events. Man may see them as random happenings—determined by the roll of the celestial dice—but the Bible teaches that God has a chosen purpose for everything (Rom. 8:28). Man has mastered many things, but he has no control over time. Each moment is God appointed.

· The Bible says, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). Your purpose is to live out and fulfill the purpose of God for your life. He is working to unfold that plan in your life, and your responsibility is to cooperate with his work in you.

· The Bible says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The grand purpose of your life is to know God and have an ongoing relationship with him that brings him glory in the way you live your life.

· The Bible says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). What is your purpose? It is to know God through his Son Jesus Christ and live for him. Your purpose is to do as much good as you can do for him and others.

· You are not here to serve and please yourself; you have a higher calling. If you don’t understand your purpose, then your life is built on the wrong foundation. And if your life is built on the wrong foundation, it does not matter how magnificent the structure is, it will crumble and fall.

II. It’s time to establish your priorities. (2a)

· Verses 2 -8 are verses with positives and negatives; we need balance in our lives.

· Life and death (v.2a) - The issue is both passive and active—birth and death are two ends of the spectrum of life. Man has no control over either—yet he is involved in the creation of new life through the process of conception and birth.

· (illustr. the “dash” between the birthdate and the death-date)

· Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.”

III. It’s time to make your plans. (2a)

· We have made plans and preparations for many things in life. We have a plan for our children. We have a plan for retirement. We have a plan for paying off our homes. We have a plan in case our houses burn. We have plans for everything. At least we should have a plan.

· Since, life and death are realities, we must plan to do both.

· We need a plan for life and eternity…