1. What is your Worldly footprint ?

2. Eccl. 2:12-17 2

3. 3 –

4. 4 FIRST, SOME THEOLOGY ANTITHESIS OF SOLOMON’S SEARCH FOR FULFILLMENT AND LASTING SATISFACTION… I WAS READING THE WORDS OF Edward Mote (1787-1874) –THE SOLID ROCK

5. 5 THE SOLID ROCK My hope is built on nothing less, that Jesus BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, No merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

6. 6 Continued His oath, His Covenant, His blood, Sustain me in the raging flood When all supports are washed away, He then is all my hope and stay. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O, may I then in Him be found, Clothed in His righteousness alone, Redeemed to stand before the throne.

7. 7 REFRAIN On Christ the solid Rock, I stand, All other ground is sinking (quick) sand, All other ground is sinking (quick) sand. Message of Eccl…….

8. 8 THE SOLID ROCK My hope is built on nothing less, that Jesus BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, No merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

9. 9 Questions When scripture talks about HIS BLOOD, what are they referring too? What did the shedding of BLOOD by Jesus accomplish?

10. 10 Questions When scripture talks about HIS BLOOD, what are they referring too? What did the shedding of BLOOD by Jesus accomplish? –The satisfaction of the “wrath of God” against our sin, (Every sin is a rebellion against God …Jesus took our due “wrath” in the excruciating death on the Cross) –So, by believing that Jesus took our personal sins on the cross (a substitution), now are we relieved from having to experience the wrath of God ourselves. –That is, we will NOT be sent to HELL…..

11. 11 2 nd QUESTION OK, WE HAVE NOW AVOIDED HELL, (BY HIS SACRIFICIAL, SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH) BUT HOW DO WE GET INTO HEAVEN? –REMEMBER THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENT: ONE MUST BE PERFECT –ANY QUESTIONS? I.E. WILL YOU MAKE IT INTO HEAVEN?

12. 12 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

13. 13 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 “HE MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN ON OUR BEHALF, (SHEDDING OF BLOOD), SO THAT, WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.” Question: What is HIS righteousness?

14. 14 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 “HE MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN ON OUR BEHALF, (SHEDDING OF BLOOD), SO THAT, WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.” Question: What is HIS righteousness? JESUS PERFECT SINLESS LIFE IS IMPUTED TO US. (I.E.WE ARE “ROBED” IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS) Romans 5: 18-19

15. 15 THE SOLID ROCK My hope is built on nothing less, that Jesus BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, No merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

16. 16 continued On Christ the solid Rock, I stand, All other ground is sinking (quick) sand, All other ground is sinking (quick) sand. Message of Eccl…….

17. 17 Lets continue to look at Solomon’s Search for “other ground” Remember, Solomon had walked with God as a young adult… But as he matured, he wandered into sinful activities … searching for something that would bring him lasting satisfaction, and a genuine sense of fulfillment.

18. 18 Reminds me of my former boss

19. 19 Became ONE OF the richest men in the world (at that time) Raced airplanes.. Bought TWA, RKO, et al Bought and developed most of Las Vegas Made dozens of movies Owned major companies.. Hughes Tool, Hughes Aircraft, TWA, RKO, etc Built largest-ever Airplane and largest-ever Helicopter Loved women Became an iconoclast.. Primarily nocturnal Became a drug addict Died with 4 inch finger nails and hair of a homeless… of kidney failure.. Hating life

20. 20 Solomon’s Search for Satisfaction Sought Fulfillment In: Wisdom (1:12-18) acquiring more knowledge Pleasure (2:1-3) laughter and pleasure Accomplishments(2:4-6) building projects agriculture endeavors engineering experiments Result was: Much grief and increased sorrow (1:18) Vanity (2:1) Vanity (2:11)

21. Search continued 21 Possessions (2:7-11) large number of servants herds of cattle wealth in silver and gold choirs and orchestras voluptuous women (700 wives) Education (2:12-17) increased knowledge is there an advantage over the ignorant person? No profit under the sun (2:11) Yes, wisdom (knowledge) has its advantages No better than a fool at death (2:16) Hated life (2:17)

22. Read ECCL. 2:12-17 video 22

23. 23 VS 12: “THEN I TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT’S SMART AND WHAT’S STUPID” - (“THE MESSAGE” VERSION) I.E. IS THERE VALUE IN EDUCATION (BEING SMARTER/HAVING MORE KNOWLEDGE?) …”YES, I DID SEE THAT IT’S BETTER TO BE SMART THAN STUPID, JUST AS LIGHT IS BETTER THAN DARKNESS. THE WISE MAN’S EYES ARE IN HIS HEAD” (I.E. USE YOUR HEAD/MAN’S ABILITY TO THINK, AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE) “BUT THE FOOL (IGNORANT) WALKS IN DARKNESS.” (WATCHES CNN)

24. “YET I PERCEIVED THAT THE SAME EVENT HAPPENS TO THEM ALL” (SAME FATE BOTH TO THE SMART AND IGNORANT… DEATH) “WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY FATE’S THE SAME AS THE IGNORANT (FOOL), I HAD TO ASK MYSELF “SO WHY BOTHER BEING WISE/LEARNED”” 24

25. “ITS ALL SMOKE, NOTHING BUT SMOKE, THE SMART AND THE STUPID BOTH DISAPPEAR OUT OF SIGHT. IN A DAY OR TWO THEY ARE FORGOTTEN. YES, BOTH THE SMART AND THE STUPID DIE, AND THAT’S IT.” Dr. Charles Hogue Curator, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural Science 25

26. “THEREFORE, I HATED LIFE BECAUSE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE UNDER THE SUN WAS DISTRESSING TO ME, FOR ALL IS VANITY AND GRASPING FOR THE WIND” wow! 26

27. Solomon’s summary (at this point) 12-17 Human wisdom suffers another crucial shortcoming– it leaves both the wise/learned and the ignorant/fool empty-handed at the threshold of death….. Or said another way… 27

28. TO EXPEND GOD-GIVEN RESOURCES FOR HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALONE IS EMPTY… THUS, LIFE PURSUITS APART FROM GOD WILL ONLY BRING FRUSTRATION/DESPAIR/ DEPRESSION. THEY ARE SINKING (QUICK) SAND 28

29. REASON: OF THE PURSUITS I TRIED, THERE WAS NOT ONE THAT HAD LASTING VALUE THAT PRODUCED ENDURING SATISFACTION 29

30. BUT FOR THE BELIEVER… WHAT DO WE LOOK FORWARD TO: 1. WILL WE BE REWARDED FOR OUR WISDOM? 2. WILL NOT WE BE REWARDED AT THE BEMA SEAT? (OUR MOTIVATION AND CHARACTER) A. AN INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN FOR THOSE WHO GET MASTERY OVER THE OLD MAN (I COR 9:25) B. A CROWN OF REJOICING FOR SOUL- WINNERS (I Thess 2:19) C. A CROWN OF LIFE FOR THOSE ENDURING TRIALS (JAMES 1:12) D. A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR LOVING HIS APPEARING (2 TIM 4:8) E. A CROWN OF GLORY FOR BEING WILLING TO FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD (I PET 5:4) 30

31. PLUS.. AN ETERNITY OF JOY, PEACE, SERVICE TO GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WOW! NOW, THAT IS NOT DEPRESSING…. 31

32. As compared with your Christian Footprint???