A Visit from the Grim Reaper

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

Introduction:

 Woody Allen: "I’m not afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens."

 No event sparks the question "Why?" more than death. Death has a terrible way of waking us up from our complacency and making us thing deep thoughts we’d rather avoid.

 Romans 11:33 "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out."

 Heb. 9:27 "It is appointed unto man once to die and after that, the judgment."

 Death is an appointment, not an accident.

  1. Death is Inescapable (9:1-11)
    1. Position in life has no bearing (9:1-2)
      1. Common destiny of the wicked and righteous in this life: death
      2. Different destinies after we die
      3. False doctrine of "Soul Sleep"
        1. Those who teach this doctrine often appeal to Ecclesiastes
        2. Solomon is drawing conclusions "under the sun" not from above. To man it looks like death is all there is.
        3. Scripture that teaches life after death
          1. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
          2. Saved thief Jesus said "TODAY thou shalt be with me in paradise."
          3. Elijah and Moses were on the Mt. of Transfiguration showing that their souls were not sleeping.
          4. In Revelation the martyred saints are in heaven wondering how much longer before their lives are avenged.
    2. Death is irreversible (9:3-6)
      1. We must do our "under the sun work now."
        1. No guarantees we can earn rewards tomorrow
        2. Opportunities may vanish
        3. Our life may end
      2. Prepare before it happens
        1. Illus. Chick tract story "The Fool"
    3. Way to face death (9:7-11)
      1. Avoid death (9:5-6)
      2. Accept death (9:7-8)
      3. Enjoy life (9:9-10)
        1. Enjoy your family relationships
        2. White garments were worn during festive occasions. Solomon suggests that we should symbolically always have our festive garments on.
        3. Due your best; don’t be mediocre
  2. Life is Unpredictable (9:11-12)
    1. Abilities don’t guarantee attainment (9:12)
    2. Plans don’t always go as planned (9:12)
      1. "The harder I work, the luckier I get."
      2. "The best laid plans of mice and men often come to naught."
  3. Wisdom is Preferable (9:13-18)
    1. Better than strength
    2. Better than weapons
    3. Brings deliverance
    4. Builds up
    5. Illus. The city is not delivered because people would not listen to the wise man
      1. They listened to the wrong person
        1. Loud mouth was heard; the quiet man wise man wasn’t
        2. Squeaky wheel gets the most attention
      2. Much damage is done by one sinner
        1. Little leaven leaveneth the whole lump
        2. Beware the foxes, the little foxes that destroy the vines
        3. Easier to tear down than to build up

Conclusion:

 Picture yourself in a casket. Are there

 Regrets?

 Omissions?

 Commissions?

 Hezekiah: One man who knew how many days he had left. We don’t know, so let us pray with the Psalmist, "So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps. 90:12