Go! And Live with Eternity in View - Ecclesiastes 9:5-10
Introduction – A Wake-Up Call for the Living
Imagine standing at a funeral. You hear the quiet sobs, see the flowers, smell the lilies, and sense the finality of that wooden casket. One thing strikes you deeply: that person’s time to choose, to act, to love, to change, is over. Life under the sun is brief, and death is certain. But here’s the urgent question: How should we live now, in light of eternity?
Today, we open to a passage that is brutally honest and yet beautifully instructive: Ecclesiastes 9:5–10 (NLT):
“The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”
Context – Solomon’s Sobering Perspective
Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, the wisest man of his age, near the end of his life. He had tasted wealth, pleasure, wisdom, and work—and yet he called much of it hevel—Hebrew for “vapour, breath, meaningless.” This passage reflects life “under the sun”—a perspective of life lived without seeing God’s eternal plan clearly. Yet, even in its realism, it points us towards a greater truth: this life is a fleeting preparation for eternity.
The Hebrew word for “know” here is ????? (yada)—not just intellectual awareness, but experiential knowledge. The living experience the reality that death is coming. And the word for “work” in verse 10 is ???????? (melakah)—meaning purposeful labour or mission. Solomon is saying: Do your God-given mission with all your might, because your time is short.
Point 1: Life Is Brief – So Live with Eternity in View
Solomon is not telling us to live carelessly, but to live consciously. The living know they will die. Death is not a distant rumour—it is a divine appointment (Hebrews 9:27 NLT: “Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment”).
Have you ever seen a countdown clock? Athletes use them before a big race. Event planners use them before a wedding. Imagine if your life had one—and it does, but you cannot see it. Every second ticks toward eternity.
John Piper: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Piper’s reminder echoes Solomon’s: what we do now matters forever.
Are you living with eternity in mind, or are you distracted by the temporary? Do you invest your best energy in what will last—loving God, serving people, sharing the Gospel?
Point 2: Godly Joy Is a Daily Gift – Receive It with Gratitude
Verses 7–9 sound almost surprising: eat, drink, enjoy, love! Solomon is not endorsing hedonism, but holiness with joy. The Hebrew word for “approves” in verse 7 is ????? (ratsah)—meaning God takes delight in blessing His people with good things.
1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT): “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
Max Lucado: “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” Lucado reminds us: joy today is a foretaste, not the final feast.
Think of a wedding reception—the music, the laughter, the food. Yet the best man always says, “This is just the beginning.” For the believer, every joy now is just an hors d’oeuvre of the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Stop postponing gratitude. Stop waiting for perfect circumstances. Rejoice in Christ now—thank Him for your daily bread, your loved ones, and the breath in your lungs.
Point 3: Whatever You Do – Do It with All Your Might for Christ
Verse 10 is a rallying cry: “Whatever you do, do well.” The Hebrew phrase ??????????? (kol asher)—“everything that comes to your hand”—implies every God-given opportunity.
Colossians 3:23–24 (NLT): “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people… the Master you are serving is Christ.”
Charles Stanley: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” Stanley reminds us that wholehearted service flows from trust in a sovereign God.
Whether you are a student, a worker, a parent, a retiree—do it for Christ. Share the Gospel in your workplace. Serve faithfully in your church. Don’t waste your brief assignment on things that will burn away.
The Gospel Connection – Life Beyond the Grave
Solomon saw only dimly what we now see clearly in Christ: death is not the end. The grave is not the full stop—it’s a comma for those in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NLT): “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? … Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
At the cross, Jesus bore our sin. In the tomb, He lay in our place. And on the third day, He rose—defeating death forever. Without Him, Ecclesiastes is a tragedy: life ends in the grave. But with Him, Ecclesiastes becomes a trumpet: live fully for Christ now, because eternity is coming!
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, you are alive today because God has given you another chance. Romans 10:9 (NLT) says: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Will you repent of your sin? Will you turn from meaningless pursuits and surrender to Jesus as Saviour and Lord? Do not delay—the grave has no planning, no second chances. The living know they will die—so live today by trusting Christ.
Call to Action – Go! And Live with Urgency
Believer, stop living like you have endless tomorrows. Share the Gospel with that neighbour. Forgive that family member. Start that ministry. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Go! And live with eternity in view.
Unbeliever, today is your moment of grace. Do not harden your heart.
Benediction:
“Now may the Lord of life grant you wisdom to number your days, courage to live with eternity in view, and joy to serve Him with all your might, until the day you see Him face to face. Go in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the love of God the Father, and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
