Transcript

George, age 92, and Jane, age 89, were all excited about their decision to get married. They went for a stroll to discuss wedding plans, and on the way, they passed a drugstore.

The elderly couple entered the store where George asked to speak to the owner. George asked him, “Do you sell heart medication?” “Of course we do,” the owner replied.

“How about support-hose to help with poor circulation?” “Definitely,” the owner said. “What about medicine for rheumatism, osteoporosis, and arthritis?” George continued. “All kinds,” said the owner with confidence.

“How about hearing aid and denture supplies, and reading glasses?” “Yes sir.” “What about eye drops, sleeping pills, Geritol, and Ensure?” “Absolutely.”

“Do you sell wheelchairs, walkers, and canes?” “All kinds and sizes,” the owner replied. “But why all these questions?”

George smiled proudly and announced, “We’re about to get married and we’d like to use your store as our bridal registry.”

There are challenges that come with aging. Pastor C. R. Stam, the founder of Berean Bible Society, used to say that getting old isn’t for sissies. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 has a lot to say about the aging process as we’ll see here.

As we consider the question, “What Is My Purpose?” Solomon reminds that life is short, challenges are coming with aging, and that death is inevitable for us all.

He teaches to remember our Creator from our youth, that we might use our lives and our time wisely and to the fullest living for Him and for His purposes.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-2: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain.”

In chapter 12, we come to the final entries of Solomon’s journal about his journey and attempt to find meaning and purpose for life.

And he had come to realize the importance of remembering and walking with his Creator. And he sees the wisdom in doing it from early on in our lives

God is being gracious with us here as Solomon writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God is giving us counsel before the fact.

God is advising and encouraging us to live for Him, to know Him, to build a relationship with Him from our youth, because that’s where purpose for our lives is found.

We find purpose in serving, trusting, and knowing the God of all Creation. When we do so, this will keep us from wasting our time in looking in all the places where joy and meaning are not found.

For each person, God is our Creator, and we, His creation, find purpose when we serve and live for our Creator. And God wants us to do so from the very beginning of our lives. He wants to use our whole life for His glory and honor.

To “remember” Him does not mean just a mental act, or to think about God. It means a commitment. The term in the Hebrew means “to act decisively on behalf of someone.” God wants us to act decisively on behalf of God while we are young.

He wants us to make a decisive decision to follow Him and His way, to commit ourselves to Him, yielding our lives to His plan and purposes. He created us and He knows what is best for us, so we should trust His wise direction for our lives.

Solomon advises that this submission and commitment to the Creator be done in and from youth. It’s easy for the young to neglect or overlook the importance of their relationship with the Lord, because they can get caught up in the distractions, excitement, and changes of youth.

But Solomon says dark days, evil days, and difficult days are coming, so it’s vitally important to lay a good, solid spiritual foundation early in life, to prepare you and give you strength for the dark days when they do come.

It’s easy to think we’ll be young forever, but the years start clicking by, and the years draw near and are coming in which Solomon says, we will say “I have no pleasure in them.” Difficult years lacking in pleasure due to age are coming.

In our youth the sky is bright and the sun, light, moon, and stars are not darkened, but Solomon says years are coming when there will be darkness, and there will be one storm after another.

In earlier years, there are times of rain, or trouble and discouragement, but the sun would emerge again.

But in old age it seems that the sunny days are gone, and after each time of rain, the sun doesn’t reappear, just another heavy cloud appears, with the promise of more.

Ecclesiastes 12:3-4: “In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

“And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low.”

The story’s told of a group of seniors who were sitting around talking about all their ailments.

One said, “My arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee.” “Yes, I know,” said another. “My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee.”

“I couldn’t even mark and “X” at election time, my hands are so crippled,” volunteered a third. “I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a fourth. “My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy!” exclaimed another.

“I forget where I am, and where I’m going,” said another. “I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.

The others nodded in agreement. Then one woman piped in cheerfully, “Well, count your blessings, and thank the Lord, we all can still drive!”

Solomon explains the aging process here with its numerous ailments through many figurative images and gives a poetic picture of old age.

The body of the older person is presented under the figure of a house.

And first, Solomon mentions the days “when the keepers of the house shall tremble.” The hands and arms protect the body, as guards do a house or palace.

Solomon says a day is coming when the keepers, though once strong and active, will shake and tremble.

Solomon says “the strong men shall bow [or bend] themselves.” The legs, knees, and shoulders weaken with age, and the aged begin to walk bent over and to totter. In our youth we can run, jump, and leap with no problem, but that won’t always be the case.

It’s said “You know when you’re getting older when your back goes out more often than you do. And when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.”

Verse 3 says that a day is coming when “the grinders cease because they are few.”

In other words, the older we get the more we’ll have to gum our food. We’ll have less and less teeth as we age. Our teeth will one day no longer be able to chew and grind our food because there will be too few uppers to meet the remaining lowers.

Verse 3 further says that as we get older “those that look out of the windows be darkened [or grow dim].” This refers to deteriorating and failing vision. The days are coming when as we age our eyesight will worsen and glasses become necessary.

It will go from bifocals, to trifocals, to surgery for cataracts, to extra large type. From teeth and eyesight, Solomon next refers to our hearing.

The day will come also that the “doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low.” The doors shut “in the streets” represents one who is hard of hearing which cuts the elderly person off from the sounds all around them.

The “sound of the grinding is low,” speaks of how in Solomon’s day and culture, the common sound of the grinding of grain in the home is low and barely discernible.

And so in the streets and in the home, everywhere they go, things are hard to hear. And the older among us get frustrated because everyone begins to speak lower nowadays and they mumble so badly you can barely hear what anyone say.

From personal experience, the more aged Solomon says also “he shall rise up at the voice of the bird.” When once as a younger person, we might’ve been able to sleep soundly thru the roar of a 747 or a locomotive thundering by, the slightest noise terminates sleep, even just the chirping of birds in the early morning. Birds can be noisy in the morning though!

And so the elderly suffer from insomnia and light sleep, wishing they could sleep longer, but rising up bright and early each day.

Verse 4 finishes with the time when “the daughters of music shall be brought low.” In other words, the voice changes, and we’ll be unable to sing as we once could sing. The voice will begin to crackle and waver and become unsteady and weaker.

Ecclesiastes 12:5-8: “Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

“Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”

A woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.

Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class so many years ago. She wondered, “Could this be the same guy I had a crush on way back then?” She quickly discarded any such thought when she met the balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face.

“He’s way too old to have been my classmate,” she thought to herself. Still, after he examined her teeth, she asked, “Did you happen to attend Morgan Park High School?”

“Yes! I’m a Mustang,” he gleamed with pride. “When did you graduate?” she asked. “1959,” he replied. “Why do you ask?” “You were in my class!” she exclaimed. “Really?” he said, looking at her closely. “What did you teach?”

Even though we may not feel old or feel like we look very old, this aging process takes place to each of us. And the Bible portrays it very accurately.

Fears begin to take over in old age. Solomon refers to getting older that “they shall be afraid of that which is high.” Increasing age brings with it a fear of heights and high places. There is also a constant fear of falling which may result in broken bones.

Their awareness of all dangers can become acute, making them more afraid to venture out, “and fears shall be in the way,” Solomon says.

And as you age, you get more overprotective and preoccupied with possible dangers, and they warn their loved ones when they go anywhere of all the dangers they could encounter and need to avoid, naming them one by one. Common words become: “Be careful!”

Solomon turns to the hair when he says, “And the almond tree shall flourish [or bloom].” When an almond tree blooms it has a white, silver-gray appearance, and so the picture is painted here of one whose hair turns white and gray as they age.

“The grasshopper shall be a burden,” speaks of the failing of strength and how even the lightest object like a grasshopper is heavy or a burden for the older person to carry.

“Desire shall fail,” speaks to natural appetites diminishing and ceasing altogether, and how at the end of life the appetite for food fades and stops.

Then Solomon says “man goeth to his long home [or eternal home], and the mourners go about the streets.” The aging process and our physical decline ultimately culminates in our death and people grieving our departure and homegoing.

Then King Solomon describes the common ways people go to their eternal home. The imagery describes a “golden bowl” or lamp, hanging from the ceiling on a “silver cord.”

The silver cord refers to the thread of life. When it is broken, the burning lamp falls to the ground and shatters, portraying death as tragic and irreversible.

The idea is that when the cord of life snaps it causes the light of life to go out. The breaking of the golden bowl is often equated with the brain or a stroke here.

The first part of the verse equates life with light, the second part equates life with water. The breaking of the “pitcher” and “wheel” speaks of a well and a pitcher filled with water being drawn up, but the wheel suddenly breaks, causing the pitcher to drop and shatter.

Thus no more water can be drawn, the machinery of life stops working, and the water of life stops flowing. This is equated to the heart when it breaks and stops pumping, and the blood stops circulating and death comes as a result of heart failure or a heart attack.

“And then shall the dust return to the earth as it was,” wrote Solomon, which recalls Genesis 2:7 when man was made formed “of the dust of the ground.” And as God told Adam in Genesis 3:19, “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

James 2:26 says “The body without the spirit is dead.” The spirit leaves the body at death, and then the body begins to decay and eventually turns to dust.

For the believer, at death their spirit goes to be with God and death is simply an entrance into heaven where we’ll meet our Savior and live and reign eternally with Him in glory.

For the unbeliever, their spirit goes to hades and await their time when they stand before God, when they will be judged for their sins and cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

All of this is going to happen. Solomon’s words eventually will impact all of us. The Bible’s predictions and warnings are reliable and timeless. It tells us the truth ahead of time, and it implores us to believe it, trust it, and live in light of it.

There will come a day when these physical infirmities due to the aging process will take place. There will come that day, if the Lord doesn’t come first, that we will have to face our death. So are your ready? Do you know where you’ll spend eternity?

We beg each of you to trust Christ as your Savior right now, to trust that He died for your sins and rose again. Trusting this good news gives us a home in heaven eternally.

Solomon’s portrait of aging again is primarily for the youth, for young people to stop and ponder the direction they are going. He wants to use your life. He wants you to make a settled decision to give Him your whole life. You will find purpose in doing so.

When you live a life built on the rock-solid foundation of God’s Word, when you live by faith in Him and in light of eternity, it brings real meaning to our lives.

When His purpose is put into our lives, “It is like a ray of light hitting a prism and suddenly beautiful colors shine through and all around us.”

Remembering your Creator in the days of your youth is so very crucial. It will lead one to live for what is most important and for what is lasting.

If you look at life and live your life apart from God, trying to find meaning, truth, and purpose without Him, then you’ll end up with the same conclusion as Solomon at the end of it as verse 8 says: “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”

It’s all empty, futile and really disappointing. But with God, living for the Creator, it’s the exact opposite: it’s a full life, a joy-filled life, a life of meaning and purpose!

Ecclesiastes 12:9-12: “And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

In the journal we have before us of Solomon’s search and journey into life he closes on a personal note, and he underscores the validity and truth of the teaching in this book, and the advice he offered in it.

He states that he was wise and shared his knowledge with others, transmitting his wisdom in proverbs after giving them good heed, or carefully weighing them, proving and testing them for accuracy.

He took thoughtful care in his search for meaning and purpose. He chose his words carefully. He used upright words of truth, and as such they were pointed and convincing.

His words were “as goads.” Goads were sharp pointed sticks to prod an animal along. Solomon’s words prodded people to pay attention and obey. And they were like nails, driving truth into the mind and truths on which to hang their lives.

And these words which were like goads and well-driven nails were given by inspiration, given from the supreme Giver of wisdom, the One Shepherd, who is God. And as the Shepherd, it speaks to the fact of His words relaying care and concern for us.

God is concerned about our lives and the direction of them. He cares deeply for each of us, and wants only what’s best for us. He doesn’t want us to live for what is temporary, meaningless and empty. He wants us to turn to Him for finding life’s meaning and purpose, and He will direct our paths and show us the ways of true joy and peace.

Solomon for the first time then addresses his son. What he says makes every student nod in agreement: “much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

Solomon says if one would keep looking for answers to the meaning of life in many other books, they’d only exhaust themselves and it would be pointless.

Solomon’s point in warning his son is to show him and all his readers that there is no need to keep looking for answers about life’s meaning and purpose beyond what God has said.

In other words, stop here. Just trust God and His Word: meaning, purpose, joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment for your life are found IN HIM ALONE.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

King Solomon, the preacher, sums up his message and gives the simple conclusion of all his in-depth research and discourse about life: the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.

Solomon’s final word on the issues of life focus on a person’s relationship to God. He tells us that we need to put God first in our lives, before all other things.

We need to fear and respect the true and living God. He is worthy of our fear and respect. We need to bend and bow our hearts, minds and wills in loving submission to Him and His authority over our lives.

He created life and He alone knows how it should be best lived.

He’s given us His instruction for how to live before Him, and Solomon says that as we fear and respect the Lord we need to keep, or yield and obey His instruction and commands that He gives us for our lives which are for our good.

Solomon lived under the law, so to keep His commandments back then was about keeping the law and God’s will and His Word for that dispensation.

We live under grace, so to keep His commandments today, we must obey God’s will and His Word for this dispensation of grace found in the letters of Paul, because as Paul wrote, “the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).

Life is a gift of God. One day we must give an account to God of what we have done with His gift. We will face the One who created us, and we will give an account of the life we have lived before Him.

Everyone is answerable and accountable to God for everything they do, whether obvious or concealed, whether good or evil in His sight.

What is the purpose of life? After every detail had been examined by Solomon in trying to answer this question, he found that life’s purpose rests in God and His Word.

He gives our lives meaning. As it’s been rightly said “The heart is restless until it finds its rest in God.” Are you restless? Has your heart found rest in God?