Make Believe - Eccelesiastes 1:1-11

Do you affirm once again, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, that the Bible is God’s Word revealing Christ and his redemption, and that the teachings of this church reflect this revelation? [We/I do.]

Do you promise to join with us, sharing your gifts, in our worship and fellowship, and in the mission God has given us in the world? [We/I do.]

[Asking the congregation to raise a hand towards the new member(s):]

Do you promise to receive [name/s] in love as your brothers and sisters in Christ, support them with your fellowship and prayers, and, recognizing their gifts, invite them into the life and mission of our congregation? [We do.]

___________________________

Hannah and Samuel have been asking if we can get a cat.

While it’s probably not going to happen.

It doesn't stop my son from playing make believe

Mama Cat, Dada Cat, Baby Kitten.

It’s adorable isn't it?

We all have played make believe when we were younger.

Whether we were knights, cowboys, or princesses all of us have gotten lost in the moment.

But playing make believe doesn’t stop when we are kids.

Today many of us get lost in a good book, or in a great video game, or that tv series we’re binging.

But that’s not the only way we play make believe.

The preacher of Ecclesiastes shows us that we play make believe by living like we will never die.

This is a somber book.

Not your typical mood lifting inspiration you hope for on a Sunday.

Praying last year I felt drawn to Ecclesiastes as I felt it would speak to our current cultural moment so poignantly.

The closer I’ve gotten to the passage the more I’ve thought, “maybe we should do something else. Something more uplifting.”

But as I have set down and started wrestling with it.

The more I see that yes Ecclesiastes is difficult and heavy but so so so needed.

These are the words of the preacher.

Scholars debate over whether it is Solomon or someone writing through the voice of Solomon.

I tend to believe this is Solomon reflecting on his life.

King Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, was the third and widely celebrated king of Israel, known for his divinely granted wisdom, immense wealth, and the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

His reign is often noted for its prosperity and impressive accomplishments, but also for its later years marked by alliances and decisions that went against God's commandments.

Solomon contributed significantly to biblical literature, including Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, offering insights into wise living and reflections on human existence and love.

When you read Ecclesiastes you can almost imagine walking side by side with Solomon, as he contemplates life's vast expanse.

Through Ecclesiastes, he invites us into his world, into his search for meaning.

Solomon, the brilliant son of David, beckons us to reflect.

Solomon was a man with unmatched wisdom—a gift from the Lord.

This was the man whose poetic insights, songs, and proverbs captured the imaginations of generations.

His voice in Proverbs, the heartfelt emotions in Song of Solomon, and the deep introspections of Ecclesiastes—these writings paint a vivid picture of a thinker like no other.

Yet, life has a way of humbling even the wisest.

Solomon, for all his wisdom, had moments when he strayed.

Drawn by worldly treasures, he amassed wealth, sought pleasures in many relationships, and even turned to idols.

These choices cast long shadows.

Many believe Ecclesiastes captures Solomon in his later years—a seasoned king looking back, pouring out lessons learned from his own missteps.

Imagine him, seated among us, confessing, "I've tasted life's many offerings, but they are all 'hevel'—a breath, a vapor, fleeting like the mist."

Hevel - Maybe your translation says meaningless or vanity.

Every mention of "hevel" in Ecclesiastes is Solomon pointing to life's fleeting moments.

Those transient pleasures and pursuits that come and go like a breath on a chilly day.

Doesn't that echo so much of our modern pursuits? Running after dreams that evaporate just as we think we've grasped them.

And here lies the heart of the matter: while life's temptations are many, without a true anchor, we're often left drifting.

The pleasures of life, its riches and successes, aren't inherently wrong.

But when they become the core of our existence, they leave a void.

What's the enduring message Solomon wants to share? And more crucially, what's God's invitation to each of us today?

It's profound in its simplicity:

Big Idea: Only in Christ do we find true gain.

Everything else, no matter how shiny or appealing, is fleeting and transient—like "hevel."

But with Christ, we have a foundation, a purpose that outlasts time itself.

1. The Grasping

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (ESV)

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Imagine this: the gentle puff of air when you blow out a birthday candle.

How long does that whiff of smoke really last?

It's there, it's real, but it's gone in an instant.

This puff, this fleeting moment, is captured by the Hebrew word "hevel" – a breath, a breeze.

It's how Solomon, the Preacher, describes life: here one moment, gone the next.

We've all said or felt it: "Time just flies."

Maybe you've heard your grandparents say, "I blinked, and suddenly I was old."

Life's beauty, its charm, its riches, all fleeting - like beauty fading with time.

The worldly gains we chase, they're just like that whiff of smoke from the candle.

Momentary, fleeting.

But here's another twist: ever tried catching smoke with your hands? It's elusive.

You see it, but you can't hold onto it.

You can’t grasp it

And isn't life often like that too?

Psalm 103:15–16 (ESV)

As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

We are here and gone

But, often, we don't want to face this reality.

We live like we're immortal, we act like we have control over every element, thinking we can make an everlasting mark.

Ecclesiastes reminds us, though, to confront these illusions.

The pressing question Solomon puts forth is, "What does man gain by all his toil under the sun?"

After all our endeavors, what lasting legacy do we truly leave?

Despite our struggles and aspirations, the universe remains unchanged by our fleeting presence.

In essence, life is but a breath, our very existence, the briefest of moments.

Ecclesiastes 1:4–7 (ESV)

A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens to the place where it rises.

The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

The preacher points us to the rhythm of life, the perpetual dance of day into night, the unceasing cycle of seasons.

This is what see in this section.

What is the message? Life is cyclical.

What happens now, happened before and will happen again.

The Preacher points to the sun's daily journey, the wind's eternal dance, and water's endless cycle to emphasize life's repetitiveness.

He parallels this with human experiences of speaking, seeing, and hearing, showing that like the sun and water, we too are caught in the rhythm of repetitive actions.

Yet, this constant movement doesn't bring lasting achievement.

It’s as if we’re always consuming – seeing, hearing, experiencing – but never fully satisfied.

The world has so much to offer, so many wonders to behold. Still, the words from Ecclesiastes echo deeply:

vs 9

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (ESV)

What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

This idea isn't just limited to nature or human experiences.

Consider technology.

Many see it as groundbreaking, the epitome of human advancement. But it’s the same human itch.

Imagine the grandest library in ancient times – The Library of Alexandria.

It was a marvel, it held countless scrolls and texts, amassing the knowledge of the ancient world.

Scholars and thinkers of the time would journey for miles, hungry for wisdom, engaging in dialogue, debates, and discussions.

Fast forward to today, and we have the Internet.

A vast digital "library" that contains an almost endless amount of information, videos, articles, and more.

Just like the scholars of the past, today's users seek knowledge, engage in online debates, join virtual communities, and share thoughts across vast distances instantly.

While the medium has changed – from parchment to pixels – the essence remains the same: the human urge to seek knowledge, connect, and communicate.

Just as the scholars of Alexandria had their scroll in hand, today's individual has their smartphone or tablet.

The tools have changed, but the quest for knowledge and connection remains timeless.

So what is the Preacher getting at

What is the core message?

Everything we experience, every accomplishment, every aspiration, has its roots in what was before.

Even our most significant discoveries, like space travel, stem from the ancient urge to explore and understand the unknown.

As we look to the stars, the same age-old curiosity drives us, reminding us of Ecclesiastes' profound truth: "What has been is what will be."

So, what then is the point of all our toil? If life is cyclical, and nothing is genuinely new, why strive for greatness?

Imagine a young child at the beach, thrilled by the softness of the sand beneath her little feet and the gentle waves teasing the shoreline.

She scoops up a handful of sand, marveling at the glistening particles as they catch the sunlight.

Desiring to take a piece of this wondrous moment home, she clenches her fist tightly around the sand.

But, the tighter she grasps, the more the sand slips through her fingers, cascading back to where it came from.

Eventually, only a few grains remain in her hand, the rest lost to the wind and waves.

This is what we do.

Just like the elusive sand slipping away, our pursuits of success, wealth, and even relationships, while seemingly tangible and achievable, gradually escape our grasp, despite our most fervent efforts.

Despite our best efforts to hold onto the tangible and transient, it inevitably eludes us, leaving us with mere remnants of what we thought we could possess.

Just as the child learns that she cannot contain the beauty and vastness of the beach within her tiny hand, may we too recognize the futility of attempting to clutch onto the temporal, acknowledging our own limitations and redirecting our efforts towards that which is eternal and unchanging.

The Preacher’s stark conclusion: our world won’t pause to remember our achievements or even those of our offspring. The accolades, the milestones – they fade, just as we will.

We start here considering life's fleeting moments and how everything we chase seems temporary.

But there's a deeper truth we must face: our own end.

This leads us to our next point, "The Loss".

We all have a limited time on this Earth. How does coming to terms with that reality change the way we live? Let's explore.

2. The Loss

Look at verse 11

Ecclesiastes 1:11 (ESV)

There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.

The Preacher, observes the rhythms of the world and concludes that despite all our labor, life is fleeting, and we will ultimately pass away and be forgotten.

A young professional may dream of a fulfilling career and a joyful family, yet life's cyclical nature ensures it will all come and go.

Some argue that Ecclesiastes offers a worldview void of God's presence – a life "under the sun" where everything is transient.

They propose that perhaps this cyclical, temporary nature is only true if we exclude God.

Yet Solomon isn’t just commenting on a life devoid of Christ.

He's stating a universal truth, applicable to believers and non-believers alike: all life under the sun shares this cyclical, fleeting nature.

James 4:14 (ESV)

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Here is a stark reality you have to hear…you will die.

In the scriptures, the sun often symbolizes time.

The term "under the sun" signifies our earthly existence.

For the duration of our time on earth, life is transient, repetitive, and, eventually, we all face mortality.

Embracing Christianity doesn’t exempt us from this truth.

If anything, it should make us more acutely aware of it.

Solomon's foundational message?

Acknowledging our mortality teaches us how to truly live.

For in these earthly days, the undeniable truth is that our time is limited.

The Preacher tells us: Face it, we all have an expiration date.

And while that might seem like a grim thought, there's purpose behind it.

He's not talking about endings but beginnings.

How do we truly live, knowing our time here is brief?

He shares a truth: Understanding we will one day die is the key to genuinely embracing life today.

The wise not only know this, but they embrace it.

It might sound like common sense, but take a moment and think:

How often do we really live like we know our days are numbered?

How often do we deny this?

David Gibson’s book Living Life Backward has been so helpful in unfolding the words of Ecclesiastes. Here is what he has to say

“The reality is, we spend our lives trying to escape the constraints of our created condition. Opening our eyes to this is a significant breakthrough. To be human is to be a creature, and to be a creature is to be finite. We are not God. We are not in control, and we will not live forever. We will die. But we avoid this reality by playing “let’s pretend.” Let’s pretend that if we get the promotion, or see our church grow, or bring up good children, we’ll feel significant and leave a lasting legacy behind us. Let’s pretend that if we change jobs, or emigrate to the sun, we won’t experience the humdrum tedium and ordinariness of life. Let’s pretend that if we move to a new house, we’ll be happier and will never want to move again. Let’s pretend that if we end one relationship and start a new one, we won’t ever feel trapped. Let’s pretend that if we were married, or weren’t married, we would be content. Let’s pretend that if we had more money, we would be satisfied. Let’s pretend that if we get through this week’s pile of washing and dirty diapers and shopping lists and school runs and busy evenings, next week will be quieter. Let’s pretend that time is always on our side to do the things we want to do and become the people we want to be. Let’s pretend we can break the cycle of repetition and finally arrive in a world free from weariness.” _ David Gibson

Riff - we are living in a world of make believe.

We are all chasing “new” hoping to put an end to the squelching mundane we feel.

In "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, there's a revealing conversation between two devils.

The elder devil, Screwtape, shares a secret with his younger counterpart, Wormwood, about a human weakness.

He notes our unending chase for the 'next new thing', hinting that this desire might distract us from God.

The horror of the Same Old Thing is one of the most valuable passions we have produced in the human heart—an endless source of heresies in religion, folly in counsel, infidelity in marriage, and inconstancy in friendship.

Screwtape, points out a human truth. God gave us a love for new things and also a love for the familiar.

Think about it: we get excited when spring brings new flowers, but we also love the comfort of knowing spring returns every year.

But Screwtape warns that the devil tries to mess up this balance God set for us.

Now just as we pick out and exaggerate the pleasure of eating to produce gluttony, so we pick out this natural pleasantness of change and twist it into a demand for absolute novelty. This demand is entirely our workmanship. If we neglect our duty, men will be not only contented but transported by the mixed novelty and familiarity of snowdrops this January, sunrise this morning, plum pudding this Christmas. Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeed hopscotch as regularly as autumn follows summer. Only by our incessant efforts is the demand for infinite, or unrhythmical, change kept up. -C.S. Lewis

The Preacher is clear: our lives are filled with repetitive rhythms.

While we're always chasing new experiences, they soon become part of the cycle.

Achievements? They'll fade.

Even our names may be forgotten in time.

This isn't meant to sadden us, but to awaken us.

Instead of endlessly chasing after what's new, we should find contentment in what is.

John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University.

He came from a Christian home, and he was gifted with a keen mind and good looks.

Yet, in his youth he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic.

One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart.

While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat and lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn’t even have a bed.

Yet, he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God.

Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man’s misfortunes. “And what else do you thank God for?” he said with a touch of sarcasm.

The porter smiled, and in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, “I thank Him that He has given me a life and being, a heart to love Him, and above all a constant desire to serve Him!”

Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true contentment and joy.

The Preacher's wisdom isn't about the futility of life, but rather its richness when lived in the present.

Don't chase the wind; embrace today.

Don’t grasp at life hoping for gain

Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

We have explored the fleeting nature of life's losses, there's a brighter horizon ahead. Let's pivot from what seems like life's emptiness to its true fullness: The Gain.

3. The Gain

Ecclesiastes 1:11

Ecclesiastes 1:11 (ESV)

There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.

This verse gives us a haunting reflection of human endeavor: all that we chase, all that we yearn for, all that we think we gain, it's like grasping at smoke, intangible and fleeting.

When you your life chasing after your job it leads to nothing.

When you chase after your kids, nothing.

When you chase after charity, nothing.

Many men would love to lead the life that Sean Connery had.

He was tall, handsome, and dashing, Connery played the glamorous part of 007 in six James Bond movies.

Connery travels the world to shoot movies in places like Europe, Africa, and Asia.

In addition to acting, Connery works as the executive producer of films, he held power to create captivating movies.

Yet when asked in an interview why, at age sixty-two, he continued to act, Connery gave a surprising reply: “Because I get the opportunity to be somebody better and more interesting than I am.”

Many people feel like Connery. Their lives aren’t all that they could be.

They aren’t as good as they should be. Something is missing that even glamorous acting roles cannot fulfill. .

Where then is there hope?

What can we gain from this life?

The apostle Paul in prison realizing he may soon die. Considers all his toil and his labor and this is what he says.

Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

While the world prompts us to accumulate and chase after shadows, the Gospel calls us to something more profound.

In Christ, not only does our living find purpose, but even in death, we gain.

Unlike worldly pursuits which fade away, our life in Christ has a lasting significance that transcends time.

It's easy to get caught in the world's cycle of make-believe, chasing the wind and things that don’t truly matter.

We keep reaching for the next best thing, hoping it'll fill the void.

But here’s the wake-up call: Ecclesiastes is that splash of cold water to our face, urging us to focus on what truly matters.

Reflect on your lives, and consider this:

Are we just accumulating fleeting moments, or are we building an eternal legacy in Christ?

Fleeting moments dissipate like smoke;

the life in Christ stands firm for eternity.

Oh would we not be lulled into life's illusions.

Instead, let's anchor our pursuits in Christ, where real gain is found..

Romans 8:18–21 (ESV)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Here we hear of a creation aching for redemption, yearning for the chains of the curse to be broken.

It tells the story of an earth that remains steadfast while we, its intended caretakers, return to dust.

Death has touched everyone, from Adam to David, and it will reach us too.

Yet, amid all the tombs, there's one that remains empty.

Only one man escaped the grip of death—Jesus.

He conquered the curse, and now offers us that same victory.

(RIFF)

If we've been searching for meaning elsewhere, it's time to turn to Him.

As Augustine beautifully said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You, Lord.”

Application Questions:

What worldly pursuits have I been chasing, thinking they will bring lasting fulfillment?

When was a time I thought I had “gained”, only to find that in time I was dissatisfied again?

What tangible steps can I take to break free from the cycle of endlessly chasing things that don't bring true fulfillment, How can I practice contentment in my current circumstances?

Have I experienced moments when I've truly felt the gain of Christ in my life?