Two Great Mysteries In Life Series

1 For I considered all this in my heart, (WHY?) so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them.

2 All things come alike to all: One (fate-event) happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

*In Solomon’s day, dogs were diseased mongrels that ran in packs through city streets, not pampered pets*

5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. 13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 there was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 16 Then I said: "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good."

Introduction – Mysteries in Life

Questions to ponder...

1 Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are dead?

2 Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

3 Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

4 Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

5 Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

6 Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

7 What is the speed of darkness?

8 If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

9 Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?

10 If someone with a split personality threatens to commit suicide, is it a hostage situation?

11 If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

12 Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

13 Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up, like, every two hours?

14 If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

15 If someone's crying, why do we ask if they're OK?

Notice that…

Death is Inevitable 1-10

God’s Sovereignty 1

Our lives rest in the hands of God! Nothing happens to the children of God that doesn’t first pass through the hands of God