Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Solomon concluded his investigation with this message for all men by –

I. Reminding man that life is short. Ecclesiastes 12:1-11

Solomon presented a graphic description of the condition of the aged man as he approached the grave in death. Each verse draws forth from us the image of a family member or friend. We can see them clearly in our minds and we know that what he has written is true.

Having established the truth of life, he began –

II. Reviewing the warning signs that he has posted. Ecclesiastes 12:8-12

As Solomon came to the end of each road he traveled, he came to the same –

A. Conclusion. Ecclesiastes 12:8 “…all is vanity.” Life without God is worthless!

He informed us that although life offers no happiness, he kept on searching and warning because of his –

B. Concern. Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 He had wisdom and power and determined to use it to carry out this search to the end. He wrote warnings that need to be reviewed –

1. Message 2 beginning in chapter 2, He searched out false advertisements along the highway of life.

Solomon’s conclusion was that none of these searches gave him the solution that he was seeking. Therefore, he posted the warning sign that the advertisements along the highway promising that happiness and satisfaction can be found in education, entertainment, experiences, and escape from the world cannot be believed – there is no truth in them.

2. Message 3 Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 The sign posted here states “Wrong Way” Disappointment and death ahead.

Man will leave all of his triumphs and treasures on the highway. The person following him will either waste them or misuse them to his own destruction. No matter what happens – a toll gate is at the exit and everything one has gained will be collected and left behind. Solomon grieved as he discovered this truth and found that no one can hold tightly enough to material things to keep them.

His recommendation was that people use all that they have before everything is stripped away at the exit into death.

3. Message 4 Ecclesiastes 3:1-26

Solomon summed up his conclusion:
If there is a time to plant and a time to reap –
If there is a time to kill and a time to heal –
If there is a time to tear down and a time to build –
If there is a time to be holy but only a time to die as the unrighteous, life is cruel!
If you do not fear God, you may as well enjoy life, because it is all that you ever will have.

4. Message 5 Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

At this exit, Solomon posted the warning sign “Warning, no rest areas ahead”! No rest for the soul was found along those roads that promised that Power, Prosperity, Privacy, and Pride would lead to happiness, contentment, and rest. The only rest in life is in God through His blessed Son, Jesus Christ.

5. Message six Ecclesiastes 5 The warning here is that people can be easily deceived by what they see, but beware – where you see worship and work and wealth of this world, only disappointment, destruction, and death reside. No happiness, satisfaction, or contentment is to be found here in the empty activities of the natural man.

Solomon instructs us through his experience that no man can fight against God and win – Ecclesiastes 6:10 “…neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.”

He continued and advised us that his writings were authoritative and set forth another warning that we must be careful not to be –

C. Confused. Ecclesiastes 12:12 Stay with the truth as given by God.

Now we turn to the conclusion of the matter of life. Solomon is –

III. Recommending that man should fear God and obey Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

We need to try and continue to be as clear as we can in considering this recommendation.

Solomon’s recommendation is applicable to the –

A. Men who have not received the truth. Those living in unbelief.

The natural man is not ignorant of the existence of God. It is that he has not been introduced to God. He does not know who He is and cares little to find out the truth. He does not realize that he has no excuse to give to God in the judgment. He turned from God to create idols to worship instead. When man knew the truth, he denied the truth and chose to worship his creations instead of God
The solution to man’s condition is in hearing and believing the Word of God declaring the truth that all men are sinners and are in need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Yet, Solomon’s recommendation is not only for the natural man, those who do not believe in God. His recommendation is also applicable for –

B. Men who have received the truth.

We must remember that Solomon is not simply searching for answers as we would imagine a scientist would as he searched for a cure for dread diseases. He is not standing at a table on which test tubes filled with all variety of sin are used in experiments to find the cure for evil by mixing them with good works, good feelings, good intentions and any other thing that his wisdom can provide. Solomon is a man that knew God, loved and served God. He is that researcher that turned from God and injected himself with all manner of sin, feeding his own lust and desires. He led his people away from God and destroyed the nation.

Now we see this man, old and broken with the ravages of sin that he allowed to rule his life in his search for happiness

– we see this man, repentant and turned back to God, yet living with the consequences of his sin

– we see this man desperately warning others that the only hope in life is in God – “…fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”

Being a believer does not make you immune to sin.

Paul wrote in –

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
We have a responsibility to observe the warning signs the Lord has led Solomon to post –
We are to see and obey!
Why? For the glory of God.
Why? For your own good.

Please note – This world provides no peace, happiness, or contentment.

If you are not saved, turn to the Lord today for salvation.
If you are saved, glorify God today through how you live.