A Surprising Punch Line

The teacher Ecclesiastes search exhaustively satisfaction, ultimately declaring each of his pursuits meaningless. So what is his futile exploration teach us today on Truth for Life.

Alistair Begg walks through the teacher's surprising conclusion and his parting words of wisdom before we come to the punch line. We need to acknowledge the work that is being done by the teacher that is described in verse nine and following. Not only was the teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge who's saying this voice speaks. This while presumably, the writer is writing in the third person he doesn't want to say and by the way, I did a remarkably good job.

I'm a phenomenally wise person in my teaching has been superb but just in case any of you get any misapprehensions concerning these is the teacher I want you to know that I will. All of this to someone else because all of this wisdom that I mean can able to convey to you is actually been given to me. I just passed it on to you and I want you to know that the person who gave it to me is just simply one shepherd. Namely, the Lord himself that he is the source of all this wisdom, he began chapter 12. Remember by sick. Remember your creator. You mustn't forget your creator. Now he says make sure that you listen to your shepherd 40 is not simply a God who is far away. He's a God whose nearby. He's a God who knows a God who can be known by God who speaks in an understandable fashion. A God who speaks with authority in a God who speaks with finality. So he says that since this shepherd is spoken with such authority and with such finality and, incidentally, is there not here just that some indication of the doctrine of inspiration that man moved by God as Peter says, work, work were ushered along by the Holy Spirit that the writer wrote within the context of his day. The historical context the circumstantial context within the framework of the genre of his capability and yet you have this amazing, inseparable continuum that involves the moving of the power of the spirit of God and the actual reality and life of the writer of the book is a great and wonderful truth.

I don't want to camp on but it is important were not just reading a book which you could say, well, if this was written all the centuries before Christ so many centuries in the lab since then. Everybody know so much more now, therefore, what we know now must replace what we do that no because what is written in here is the words of the wise given by one Shepherd, timeless in its impact undeniable in its contact powerful in his life changing capacity, hence the warning in verse 12 and the little observation that follows is as I want to warn you, incidentally, as you go off out of my class now I just want to warn you about it and I think in addition to these wise words that have come from the shepherd. There lots of books I want to warn you about those that you mean in addition to your Bible and make sure that you pour everything you read through the sieve of the Bible.

Every other word of wisdom. Every other wise acknowledgment every other insight must bow to the truth of Scripture, so he observes in this statement employed by most teenagers when they're trying to get out of their homework. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 12. Make a note of it. 12 B of making many books there is no end and much study as the body was he talking about here is talking about here is the person who is always inquiring and never finding answers CS Lewis in the great divorce is an amazing section where in a dialogue with a lifelong searcher on the borders of heaven. This seeker is being invited in. He wants to come in on his own agenda. He wants to be able still to do this still to do that and do the next thing and so the person and they on the borders of heaven, who's addressing him says to this lifelong searcher. I can promise you.

None of those things. No sphere of usefulness. You are not needed. There et al. no scope for your talents only forgiveness for having prevented them no atmosphere of inquiry for I will bring you to the land not of questions but of answers, you shall see the face of God says the guy, but we must all interpret those beautiful words in our own way. For me there is no such thing as a final answer. The free wind of inquiry must always continue to blow through the mine estate not as amazing as NCL contemporary lessons. There's nothing new under the sun. Listen said the white spirit. Once you were a child.

Once you knew what inquiry was for.

There was a time when you ask questions because you wanted answers and were glad when you had found them become that child again. Even now when I became a man I put away childish things you see no argument, no appeal can avail against that kind of infinite elasticity and the encounter is CS Lewis writes it ends with the searcher saying by the way, I forgot an appointment that I had. He makes his apologies and is CS Lewis describes it, he hurries off to his discussion group in hell.

Hell will be full of people say there is no one answer. Therefore, says the teacher, you better be warned about running around with everything that is additional to its truth. Let it supplement blended help let it encourage but let it not diverge and destroy. There are tons of books there's no end to the boots and if you continue on that journey of inquiry without resolution.

Then of course it will be absolute futility back to the punch line always been Herod, here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments.

This is the whole duty of man. Notice verse 14. This expectation is given in the light of a final appointment.

That is to be face God will bring every deed into judgment.

We daren't succumb to complacency. Nothing goes unnoticed.

Nothing goes unassessed, not even the things that we disguise from ourselves, but there is an encouragement in it. Inasmuch as we needn't embrace futility either because if God cares as much is this, then nothing can be pointless in the details of life are known to God.

So he says fear God fear God to call the princes in our place so cold puts all of our hopes and fears and admiration's in their place to fear God and keep his commandments. Here is the conclusion of the matter. Here's the punchline. Let me give it to you in just a phrase, fear God and keep his commandments. Also some of the signs very Old Testament teaching me this really the conclusion. Well, it's the conclusion is written there in front of you is good and we sent someone get into the New Testament have passed Malachi into that sort of sermon on the Mount material when he gets a little more acceptable a little more amenable a little more gentle, a little more encouraging Wyoming to be unkind to you but you don't know you're talking about. You have been reading your Bible, you already forgotten our studies in Luke when Jesus gathers a vast crowd around him so vast as Luke in chapter 12 verse one. The people were stumbling over one another. They were trampling one another in their desire to get a glimpse of Jesus and to hear what it was he was saying. Wonderful scene your Bible's oatmeal notes that if it isn't like to take my word for it.

Luke chapter 12 in verse one. Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands of gathered so that they were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples and he said to them, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known what you have said in the dark will be Herod in the daylight when you've whispered in the ear of the in the room will be proclaimed on the roofs sounds a lot like Ecclesiastes 12 does not everything hidden will be brought to judgment, nothing goes unnoticed. God will bring every deed into judgment. Jesus is saying the same thing and then he says in verse four of Luke 12 I tell you my friends.

My friends, this is the most loving man I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear, fear him who, after the killing of the body has power to throw you into hell is this thing about icing for a moment, can we hear a vast crowd of people is come to listen to Jesus.

I did not crowd there would be all the various shades of the society and intermingled in it, although not with a sign on their hats. For sure there would be plenty. Common criminals, there would be the pickpockets and those who in the opportunity that was represented in a vast crowd like that would be ready to seize the moment, for their evil deed and those who got closest would be able to hear what Jesus was saying that with this phrase.

Fear God and keep his commandments in my mind I went to Luke chapter 12 because it occurred to me and when I got to Luke chapter 12 and I thought about a vast crowd, and when I thought about the fact that in the diversity of the humanity that would be represented there doubtless would be those who were criminals and then send myself I wonder if one particular criminal was present in this crowd wanted to follow my line of thought, you know, is criminal. I'm thinking I'm referring to what one of the criminals who was crucified beside Jesus, you need to go forward in your Bible to Luke chapter 23 is it and if you go forward to Luke chapter 23 in the description there of the scene at the cross.

People were watching the ruler sneered, shouting their abusive comments. The soldiers marked the put a sign up above him. Verse 38 verse 39, and one of the criminals who hung their hurled insults at a monument Christ, save yourself and it's what the other criminal rebuked in. Don't you fear God, he said how isn't that interesting. He doesn't see to the other chat don't you fear dying.

They're both going to die. Maybe he was present in the crowd when he heard Jesus say let me tell you, you shouldn't be afraid of those who can kill the body but you should be afraid of him. After the killing of the body can cast you down into hell and suddenly the lights went on and the man said I have an appointment to keep.

I have a guard to face. I have us all that needs redeemed.you fear God, and then I would've an awareness of the immensity of what was happening next to him in the love of this Christ, who was a sinless Savior dying for sinners like and he says you know what it be, is there any possibility that you would remember me when you come into your kingdom, and all the wonder of it. Is it settle on his heart and mind.

Today you will be with me in paradise. What brought about fear of God's do you fear she must be was and I think I don't think I fear God, let me tell you that to fear God and to trust God and to love God and to know God are all the same thing is all the same. The fear that is referred to in Ecclesiastes 12 arises from the discovery of the immensity of God's love is the fear of a child for a father. The awareness of the fact that even though I'm such a rotten little kid, even though I knew so many bad things even though I told so many lies and hung around with the bad people and been a disappointment to my parents. Still, my father loves me and fills me with all and makes me want to bow down before if he cast me out for whatever he would be justified but still he loves me. That's the kind of fee when a punchline. What is surprising punchline.

Fear God and keep his commitment.

She will never know what it is to fear God this way until you become God's child or use it when I am God's child, he created me. You are God's child by creation, but you are not God's child by redemption. None of us became a child of God. As a result of a religious professional doing something or us or to us the gateway into the family of God is by faith in the Lord Jesus and repentance from sin. Therefore, let me finish our series by encouraging those of you who has yet are not a child of God to become his child.

What should you do believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God's son.

The only Savior. John says to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the children of God. Jesus issues his wonderful invitation come to me all you are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest and take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, you will find rest for your souls. What a word to a lady in the well five husbands and a live-in lover as he messed up, Jesus came seeking to save the loss. The Pharisees see around Charlie. The woman with a live-in lover. You know what I can give you living water. You can, why would you even talk to me to believe in the Lord Jesus is to entrust yourself to him. Jesus is able to save you trust him and he will be your Savior.

And with that with Christ's help give up and turn away from your old lifestyle to a new way of living under the authority of Jesus recognize that your old way of life is empty under the new way of life that is held out to you and Jesus is not down any of these dead-end streets is on a narrow road that leads to life. When Jesus uses the word repent.

This is what he means is talking about changing my heart changing my mind. Changing my direction and faith involves coming to Jesus in my sinfulness, acknowledging my emptiness, receiving his forgiveness and his fullness. Indeed repentance then is born in me when I come to realize that in coming to the Lord Jesus. He will accept me just as I am in my sinfulness. He accepts me as I am in my sinfulness and then he takes and changes me by his grace and his power and one of the mechanisms that he employs to make me more and more like him and more more useful to them are the very commandments of his war so I fear God believing in Christ turning for my empty way of life. Turning to a whole new way of life, and I keep his commands. Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commands. I've quoted a number of songs and songwriters throughout the Ecclesiastes, but I'm not sure I quoted Johnny Cash and I want to finish on a country note. When I read this. Fear God and keep his commandments.

My mind went very very quickly to to a Johnny Cash song you say you are weirder than we even realized I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time.

I keep the enemies out for the tie that binds because your mind. I walk the line get doesn't say to make you mine. I walk the line to many of you come out of a background where you hear fear God and keep his commands, you sick I'm back where I started.

That's what life used to be like for me.

I would going these churches that scare the Jaguars out of me and all I heard somebody say what keep the 10 Commandments now.

I've come here. I listen to long series, you get to the end of it.

Given the snow and on and on all their you are introduced to the idea that by means of your endeavor and by your effort and your ability to provide your evidences of your designs and your desires. Eventually you would gain approval you would mix whatever little bit of grace. God gave you with all of your own abilities and synergistically you would eventually get there.

No, I'm telling you nothing to mix nothing to get there's no reason why Christ should marry you. There's no reason why he should die for you.

There is not a reason in the world save his amazing grace and love. Then when I realize he loves me as I I find it very very easy to be true. I find myself alone when Dave is through and oh yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you because your mind.

I walk the line to walk in the line God cares so much about the details of our lives is the Bible teachers.

Nothing is pointless listening to Truth for Life Mets.

Alistair Begged concluding our study in the book of Ecclesiastes, Alister returns in a moment to close the program at the end of today's message Alister explained how one becomes a child of God, you may still have questions about that you may be wondering where to begin. If so, visit our website that Truth for Life.org/learn more when you go there you find a couple of brief videos that explain clearly the gospel will also find some suggested messages and short studies to help you get started now let me remind you were in the final days of offering a book called being the bad guys. This is a great book to help you persevere comfortably in your faith despite the growing pushback from a radically shifting culture. You can request your copy of the book being the bad guys when you give a donation online at truthforlife.org/donate and if you are not currently subscribed to the free Truth for Life daily devotional. You can sign up today when you do, you will receive an email each day with the passage of Scripture and the corresponding commentary from Alister.

It's a great way to begin or end your day focusing on God and his word. To subscribe, go to truthful. I.org/lists. Now here's Alister with prayer. Some of your here this morning and you've never actually come to nail this matter for once and for all, you don't really know where you stand in relationship to these things your mixing of belief and unbelief while let me read a little prayer that I keep in my notes Lord Jesus Christ. I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed by through you. I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope, I thank you for paying my debt bearing my punishment, and offering me forgiveness. I turn from my sin and receive you as my Savior and the promise of God's word is that when we cry out to him in that way that he that comes to him. She who comes to him. He will never turn away come to them, just as your you just prayed that prayer with Alister, would you let us know. We would love to hear from you about how God used his word to work in your life today can send us an e-mail@lettersthattruthforlike.org and Bob Lapine.

We hope you have a great weekend and are able to spend time worshiping with your local church join us Monday as we begin our encore 2022 series.

These are listener favorites from the past year in our first message will help us understand why the 10 Commandments are more like a mirror than like a ladder of achievement, Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life where the Learning is for Living