Making it Safely Home

Going back to people who defy their creator and worshiped creation and by the way, became subjugated to that creation. You deny your creator and you no longer know where you came from.

You no longer know where you're going. Solomon's is beyond this brief life down here under the sun. What is ahead.

Small W.uncertain about where their life is having for the Christian our life here on earth is nothing but a temporary stay on our way to eternal happiness in our eternal home. We may call where we live now. Our home but we won't find arch crew home until were with Jesus. Welcome to wisdom for the heart. In today's Bible lesson. Solomon looks forward far into the future. Stephen Devi concludes this series with a special lesson from Ecclesiastes and a bit of revelation to this message is called making it safely home in his best-selling book entitled into Finnair. The author tells the account of an expedition to the Summit about Everest that took place about 25 years ago. One member of the expedition was a 46-year-old Japanese woman Cisco. She had a long list of accomplishments in this field is a climber.

She was renowned in her home country of Japan. The acid guy already climbs six of the famous seven summits which your hard-core climbers all want to accomplish, representing the seven highest points on the seven continents. So far, less than 500 people have accomplish that in an in the history there was one summit left for her to conquer.

And that was Mount Everest is been a lifelong goal as the expedition team climbed. She pushed herself extremely hard, even jostling away on the last leg to the front of the line.

She wanted to get to the top of the mountain.

Eventually she did with the rest of her team. Later that same afternoon. Yes sicko, and a number of other climbers were caught in the sudden and blinding blizzard.

The temperatures plummeted in the BIC winds blew unmercifully.

Having expended all her energy to get to the summit already physically weekend she succumbed to the exhaustion of the Kleinman froze to death on the mountain, according to their guy who was interviewed later. Her fatal flaw was that if he said it she mistaken her ultimate goal which she had wanted the most was to stand on.

On top of the world, so to speak, and in all of Japan. By the way cheered for for their favorite daughter when she did the guide said that was the wrong goal that you said it's a common and fatal mistake.

Even among experienced climbers. He said the goal of climbing is not to reach the summit is to get back down safely. That's the goal that she pursue the wrong one for several months before any of us knew how to pronounce coronavirus we been reading from what is essentially the expedition Journal of King Solomon's been climbing such great heights that we find hard to imagine from buildings.

The parks, the gardens to palaces to him to a global reputation of splendor and honor, not to mention every utensil in his dining room is made of solid gold. He was the golden King K right when the king what Clive to the summit of life. Somewhere along the way he began pursuing the wrong goals in the began heading in the wrong direction. And now as an old man having come to his senses. I believe as we explained to genuine repentance jobs back in the story, so to speak.

He's he's writing about this expedition and he's he's informing primarily his son into our benefit were able Abbott as well by divided racially. He's letting him know where he got off track why he ended up expending so much energy in the wrong direction and how we can avoid the same mistake were going back to our study and were now in chapter 6 and near the end of it. The last paragraph and over these past five months away on. I'm sure you been reading daily from Ecclesiastes. I have neither butted in looking for to get back down in chapter 6 of the last paragraph.

By the way Hebrew scholars believe this is the mid waypoint of the Hebrew text.

It's it's almost as if Solomon has been a polis over at halftime and and remind us of the big picture is to make several sweeping statements in this last paragraph and I'm I'm outlining them in the form of three declarations just to help guide us in our study today. These are three reminders, so to speak. We need to remember as we climb the mountain so to speak of life in order to make it safely home. Here's the first reminder no get in the what is happened in the past, took place under the creative authority of God. Notice verse 10 just the first phrase, whatever has come to be has already been named stop there for a moment, God isn't specifically mentioned by the way, but he's in between every lie of this summary statement.

Solomon is essentially saying that whatever has happened throughout history, it has been named meaning it's under the authority of God throughout the ancient world the idea of naming something the idea of naming someone is a sign of authority over that thing or over that someone that's what he's referring to whatever is happened is been named that refers to the authority of God that go back in your memory to the six day of creation, God creates and then names were given the details later. Chapter 2 he names him Adam.

He is demonstrating his authority over mankind. If you remember your creation history.

God brings all of the animal kinds families, to whom, and he says named them he is allowing Adam to demonstrate that God-given right to rule over the animal kingdom in Genesis chapter 1 were given the details God creates the universe.

The Bible tells us that he names everything without really telling us he names him were just introduce the one he named the prophet Isaiah tells us that God created the galaxies of planets and stars and then calls them all by name. Isaiah 4026 at the other day. You may remember Daniel and his three friends are taken to Babylon and what is Nebuchadnezzar due immediately.

He names them to get you saying I have authority over you find a different exercising authority over you, God will change Abram's name to Abraham, the father of a multitude of change samurai's name to Sarah, the princess of many families with the doing is demonstrating authority in their lives. Jesus one day later he looks at Simon, what is he do is rename you Peter, I'm exercising my authority over your life. And finally, this is another sermon or two but were told that God is already chosen for each of his redeemed a new name is going to give us an special pet name as it were, as we are under his new and glorious eternal authority. Now, here in Ecclesiastes, Solomon broadens this idea and this Hebrew construction is what we call a divine passive throwing to know what this means is that God is behind the scenes who is naming everything that's out brought this is God's name. Whatever has come to be. Whatever has come to be, has been named meaning God has authority over all of history. The idea, whatever is happened. There is nothing that has happened, but… Say I got a name for that guy got a name for that he has authority over all of past history is the second reminder what is happening in the present is taking place under the caring sovereignty of God. Notice the next phrase in verse 10 it is known what man is and that he is not able dispute with one stronger than he. The more words the more futility or vanity and what is the advantage demand. In other words, what is the advantage argue with someone stronger than you, who is one stronger than you and Solomon's findings, expecting us to know the one who named us and knows us stronger than we are superior to us. God not only named you. He knows everything about you.

He knows everything you're going through.

You can argue with me. God essentially says you can dispute me but you're disputing with someone far more brilliant, far stronger than use CS Lewis, put it well when he wrote that to argue with God is to argue with the one who made it possible for you to argue with them, to clear things up for God is the what I think to be a present. This is Solomon. By the way, I think this is a reminder depends this to himself that even though he was considered what he was considered the smartest guy on the planet, wisest man is nothing compared to the wisdom of God's sovereign glory. So instead of arguing with God is recommending instead of arguing with God more or less surrendered to God for often. Another pastor I was reading this text wrote of her own sense of independence and confidence.

Sometimes it's humorous if you think about, illustrated by writing what I started a new church.

I was soon overwhelmed with pressure, stress, long work weeks pressing worries. Finally, the inability to sleep. When we eventually moved into our home. I had saved the heaviest piece of furniture for lack. It was the desk from my office as I was pushing and pulling that desk with all my might. My four-year-old son came over and asked if he could help. I smiled and said sure that together we started sliding that desk across the carpeted floor of the living room he was pushing and grunting and straining as we inched our way along.

And then after a few minutes my four-year-old stopped pushing, looked up at me and said dad you're in the way. The way and then he tried to push it all by himself and of course it did bunch. It occurred to me that my problem was that I was handling my present situation, like my son thought he could handle that.

This God is really helping all that much fact you seem to be in the way Solomon is spent years by the way leading up to this journal.

Putting God over on the sideline or in the analogy of a mountain climber.

He's leaving God at base camp while he strikes out on his own thoughts going to get what the good news is, God was long-suffering and Solomon's life is with you and me you didn't leave Solomon alone.

Yes, Solomon's paid a high price and consequences for his rebellion is virtually lost so much of what matters in life use and see the kingdom crumble. His son is never going to have what you hope give him I'm so glad to see him here now is an old man realizing following the wrong goal reaching the summit of all those achievements was walking with God and getting home safely. So an older, wiser, Solomon I see him dipping his quill in the ink and making another entry in his exposition journal. Here's a reminder what will happen in the future will take place under the comprehensive wisdom of God. What happened in the past was happening in the present and was going to happen in the future. Really, all of it is under the comprehensive wisdom of God strikes me as interesting on a personal note, as I wrote this outline before the virus shut everything down. This was the sermon I was given free for Sunday the first that we had to cancel. This is the outline. This is the truth then it is the truth now noticed the last person Ecclesiastes 6 verse 12 for who knows what is good for man while he lives.

The few days it is vain, fleeting life which he passes like a shadow. For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun know what I want to do is break down this reminder. In the end of the two questions that Solomon asks here and these are two questions again. Solomon would've expected us to answer with the only answer, with which we can answer question number one who knows what's best in life go back to the first part of verse 12 for who knows what is good for man while he lives.

The few days of his fleeting life.

Make W who knows God knows God's God created he named it he ordained he managed history all the way up to the point where he dropped you right in the middle of it.

So who really knows what's best in your life while you spend it racing like a shadow passes along God who is the best advice for life today. Solomon is reminding as well that would be God. This is the struggle incident with parents is your children age and the older they get, the tougher it gets, and you try to give them advice may be live long enough to know that the challenge to mom. You tell your daughter, sweetie, I want you to know that the popularity or whatever is in the most important thing in middle school, and she looks at you like you just you never live through that dad you tell your silent look son I don't think it's a good idea to make your college decision based on where your girlfriend is going and he looks at you. You don't have a clue that so out of touch with reality. Solomon's as you know, my life. Are you older than God. Have you been around that long.

I think we appear to him as silly often as silly as our children need us with the gravity and what they believed to be the gravest question what you think is best for your life. Go back to the beginning God made you got named you he knows you. He knows everything about the mountaineer climbing is completely aware of what will satisfy and what will not. Solomon asked who knows what is good for man while he lived so briefly, by the way, keep in mind now that Solomon is the kind of man who live the kind of life that everyone he knew him. Everyone who heard about them. Everyone who met him everyone to watch them would've categorically said the same thing that is living a life if anybody knows what a good life is its Solomon will really God knows Solomon is drawing us back to him. Are we listening to his word, which is the best advice.

Question number two. Who knows what's beyond this life. Solomon writes in the last part of verse 12 for who can tell man what will be after him under the sun. Who knows the future. Again he is driving us into this cul-de-sac were the only answer we can give them is the only right answer and that is God, but in this still the question of the ages. Where did I come from, why am I here and where my going. God knows the answers to all those you go all the way back to Nimrod. It occurred to me, and the Tower of Babel.

We call it Genesis 11 and defiant.

Mankind is refusing just 100 years after the flood already. The human race is defying God when I can spread out regular scattergram to fill the earth were you doing Empire were staying together to build a tower the top, which reaches heaven little confusing. It means it represents heaven archaeologists have discovered the remains of a tower in this region. The step pyramid is a garrotte just part of the worship system.

The Arabs in this region have nicknamed it the tower Nimrod. We don't know if it's the ruins of that original tower probably is that it probably dates back to what we do know is that here in early Babylonia. Nimrod and his defiant human civilization formalizes the worship of the stars, which they believe can reveal and even influence your future. I found it interesting that 400 years before the birth of Christ, the historian Herodotus wrote that the ziggurats dotted the landscape and they do you can find them in ancient civilizations around the world. Same thing as a garrotte which was further worship of stars zodiac originating back here in early Babylonia, the astral sign originally created by Nimrod and from the Tower of Babel in the worship of the stars in the belief that somehow they influence our lives and they can help us understand the future traveled into. Of course, ancient Egypt there in Egypt with her smooth edged ziggurats or pyramids which were constructed with mathematical relationships to the stars of the famous Springs, of course. Still, there is a tourist attraction, the head of a woman in the body of a lion that a woman more than likely, representing Virgo, which is the first sign of the zodiac. And Leo the lion, the last sign of the zodiac, the Sphinx representing astral worship is the worship of the beginning and the end of the universe is eternal.

The universe has the answer to this day people around you can tell you what sign they were born in the right you probably know your own millions.

Pour over there horoscopes believing the stars influence their lives part of common language today and around vernacular is where the stars were new as all the way back to the people who defy their creator and worship creation and by the way, became subjugated to that creation. You deny your creator and you no longer know where you came from.

You no longer know where you're going.

Solomon says, who knows beyond this brief live down here under the sun. What is ahead.

Man oh, so the answer is I got a W's God got me read for you believer. We read for you.

A description of your future.

Just listen. I mean you can turn everything and make it up.

It is Revelation 21 here is that I saw a new heaven that is literally a new universe and a new earth, for the first universe. All the galaxies.

The first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city. That's the father's house. That is a garrotte made of gold.

Mankind is been imitating it for since the beginning of time. Comes to sending coming down out of heaven from God's interest on earth newer, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband gold decked out with precious gem since he describes it earlier and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away and he who was seated on the throne said, behold, I am making all things new. I'm re-creating everything brand and he said, write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.

Here's your future.

This is trustworthy. He said to me, it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, I am beginning and the end to the thirsty I gave the spring of the water of life at no charge. The best way to understand the past is to trust him because he was in authority over the best way to handle the present is to walk with him because he is in control. The best way to prepare for the future is to look for him because one day he will lead you into it because of his faithful grace and mercy all the way safely home. If you're a child of God. That's your destination. Thanks for joining us today. This lesson is called making it safely home.

It's the eighth and final lesson in Stephen's series from Ecclesiastes called surviving evil under the sun. If you missed any of the lessons in this series, you can go back and listen to any or all of them there posted to our website which you'll find that wisdom online.org. Not only will you find this series, but you'll be able to explore the complete archive of Stephen's Bible teaching ministry for some of the lessons including this series.

You can also watch the video that was taken when Stephen preached the message to the church he pastors. Again, all of that and more. Is that wisdom online.org. Also, be sure and interact with our ministry wisdom international on social. Thanks again for joining us. Be with us next time. For more wisdom for the heart