Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The Conclusion of the Matter…”
Pastor Andy summarizes Ecclesiastes on Father's Day, tracing Solomon's exhaustive exploration of every direction a life could go — pleasure, wealth, achievement, building lasting things — all of which collapse into the same verdict: vanity of vanities, all is vanity. He connects this to the greatest plague in Western society today: nihilism, illustrated starkly by Canada's MAID policy, encouraging those with diminished capacity to choose medically-assisted suicide. Yet Pastor Andy argues that all this meaninglessness doesn't disprove God, it points to Him. Just as cold points to heat and death points to life. Solomon's conclusion is the only logical one: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. Paul picks up this thread in 2 Corinthians 4, showing that the light and momentary afflictions of this vain life are working an eternal weight of glory. The Holy Spirit was given as a helper, an unmistakable guarantee that mortality will be swallowed up by Life. In conclusion, Jesus Christ is the only aim worthy of a human life, the only one who brings all of life's tensions into balance, and today is the day to give Him everything.
Scripture References:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
Ecclesiastes 9:7-9
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Romans 1:18–3:31
2 Corinthians 4:17–5:8
Colossians 2:3
Topics and Keywords:
Ecclesiastes and the question of what life is for
Solomon's explorations: pleasure, wealth, achievement, building
Vanity of vanities — all is meaningless
Ecclesiastes 7 — do not be overly righteous or wicked
The consolation prize of life — eat, drink, enjoy your wife
Nihilism as the greatest plague in Western society
Canada's MAID policy as a societal expression of nihilism
The cold, dark, and death point toward heat, light, and life
Fear God — the logical conclusion of Ecclesiastes
Paul's overview of Romans — the universal problem and the good news
2 Corinthians 4 — eternal weight of glory
The Holy Spirit as a visceral guarantee of eternity
Walking by faith not by sight
Jesus Christ as the only worthy aim for a human life
Dying to self and living for Christ brings all of life into balance
Father's Day — the role of a dad