The End of All Things: Wisdom in Life and Death

Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts eager to hear Your Word. You are the source of all wisdom, and apart from You, life is meaningless. As we open the Scriptures, may Your Holy Spirit guide us into truth. Teach us to fear You with reverence, to walk in obedience to Your commands, and to find our ultimate purpose in You alone.
Lord, remove the distractions that pull us away from Your wisdom. Soften our hearts so that we may not only hear Your Word but live it out daily. Help us to trust in Christ, our Good Shepherd, who leads us in truth and gives us the hope of eternal life.
Be glorified in this time, and may our lives reflect the wisdom You have revealed through Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:9–14
Introduction: The Pursuit of Meaning – The Final Word
Introduction: The Pursuit of Meaning – The Final Word
Life is a journey filled with questions—questions about purpose, fulfillment, and meaning. We strive for success, accumulate knowledge, and chase after temporary pleasures, hoping to find something that truly satisfies. But at the end of it all, we are left asking, What was it all for?
For the past several weeks, we have journeyed through Ecclesiastes, listening to the reflections of the Teacher as he wrestled with these very questions. We have seen him explore wealth, pleasure, work, and wisdom, only to conclude that apart from God, everything is ultimately hevel—a vapor, fleeting and ungraspable.
Today, as we come to the final passage of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher offers his ultimate conclusion. He doesn’t leave us in despair but provides a clear answer to the question of life’s purpose: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
In this final sermon of our series, we will reflect on what it means to live wisely, embrace the reality of death, and prepare for the ultimate judgment before God. May we open our hearts to receive the wisdom that leads to true meaning and fulfillment in Him.
Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.
The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
I. Pursuing Practical Proverbial Wisdom
I. Pursuing Practical Proverbial Wisdom
The Teacher dedicated himself to seeking and sharing wisdom. He carefully studied life, arranged proverbs, and presented truth with precision and beauty.
Cross-Reference: Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Practical Application:
Wisdom involves diligence and intentionality. Just as the Teacher sought to share wisdom, we are called to study God’s Word and communicate it to others.
In Christ, we see the ultimate embodiment of wisdom (Colossians 2:3). He calls us to live meaningful lives, grounded in truth.
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Reflection: Are you seeking wisdom that aligns with God’s truth, or are you chasing the fleeting wisdom of the world?
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
II. Precious Prompts for Purpose
II. Precious Prompts for Purpose
The Teacher compares wise words to goads (used to steer animals) and nails (which secure things in place). Wisdom guides us toward righteousness and anchors us in truth. These words come from the “one Shepherd,” a reference to God as the ultimate source of wisdom.
Cross-Reference: John 10:11 – Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Practical Application:
The Bible serves as our guide and foundation in life’s uncertainties. It protects us from empty pursuits and worldly distractions.
Reflection: Are you allowing the Word of God to guide and secure your life? Are you focusing on His wisdom rather than being distracted by worldly pursuits?
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
III. The Primary Purpose of Life
III. The Primary Purpose of Life
After examining life’s complexities, the Teacher boils everything down to this simple truth: Fear God and obey Him.
Reverence, awe, and submission to His authority.
What does it mean to fear God?
Recognizing His holiness, power, and justice.
Living in obedience to God’s Word, not out of obligation but out of love.
What does it mean to keep His commandments?
Cross-Reference: Matthew 22:37–40 – Jesus summarizes God’s commandments as loving God and loving others.
Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Practical Application:
True fulfillment comes from a life centered on God. In Christ, we see the perfect example of this. Jesus feared God, obeyed Him fully, and loved sacrificially. Let me give you some scriptural examples:
who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
The word "fear" (Greek: eulabeia) can be translated as godly reverence, it is in the ESV, indicating Jesus' deep submission and awe toward God the Father.
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Jesus demonstrates His complete dependence on the Father and His obedience to Him, which reflects reverence and submission.
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus' humility and obedience to the Father, even in the face of death, reflect the reverence and awe associated with the fear of God.
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
In Gethsemane, Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will in the face of suffering shows His reverence and obedience.
Isaiah 11:2 (Prophecy about the Messiah)
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
While this is from the Old Testament, it prophetically speaks of Jesus possessing "the fear of the Lord," which was fulfilled in His earthly ministry.
Reflection: Is your life aligned with God’s purpose, or are you living for yourself?
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
IV. Perceiving Perpetual Judgment
IV. Perceiving Perpetual Judgment
The Teacher concludes with a sober reminder: all of life is accountable to God. Nothing is hidden from Him, and every action will be judged.
This truth should sober us but also motivate us to live wisely and intentionally.
The Reality of Judgment:
Cross-References:
2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...”
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
In Christ, we are forgiven and freed from condemnation (Romans 8:1).
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
How Christ Transforms Judgment:
His resurrection offers the hope of eternal life and transforms how we view death and judgment.
Practical Application: Live each day with eternity in mind, motivated by God’s love and grace.
Reflection: Are you living in light of eternity, or are you ignoring the reality of God’s judgment?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Big Idea Recap: Life’s ultimate purpose is to fear God and keep His commandments. This wisdom leads us to live meaningful lives, embrace the reality of death, and prepare for judgment.
Call to Action:
Fear God and revere Him in all areas of your life.
Keep His commandments by loving Him and loving others.
Trust in Christ, the ultimate source of wisdom and hope, who transforms our understanding of life, death, and judgment.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
"Father, thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. Help us to fear You and walk in obedience, trusting in Christ as our ultimate source of wisdom and hope. Guide us to live each day with purpose and accountability, knowing that You are our Shepherd and Judge. In Jesus’ name, Amen."