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I want to share a story with you that I heard Max Lucado tell at the final main session of the NACC. It’s about three preachers who love to play golf. These three preachers die and go to heaven. An angel greets them and welcomes them to their eternal home. He shares some of the splendors of heaven. He tells them they can eat whatever they like – there are no bad calories in heaven. And if they like to golf, the golf courses in heaven are spectacular. They can play all they want. The angel then told them that the only thing they could not do was to hit any of the ducks on the water hazards. If they hit a duck, there were severe penalties. The three preachers talked it over. They decided that they’d never hit any ducks while playing golf on earth and probably wouldn’t hit any in heaven, either. Besides that, what kind of penalty could there be in heaven? These three preachers spent the next several thousand years playing golf. One day, one of them tees off and hits a duck right in the head. The duck falls over dead. The preachers look around to see if anyone saw what happened and sure enough, Saint Peter comes down the hill with the ugliest woman they had ever seen. He leg shackles the woman to the preacher who hit the duck. Saint Peter tells them that this is the penalty for hitting a duck. The first preacher is devastated. Not only is he leg-shackled to the ugliest woman he’s ever seen, he can’t play golf anymore so he leaves the group. The other two preachers continue to play. After several thousand more years, another one hits a line drive on his approach shot and hits a duck. It keels over dead. Sure enough, they see Saint Peter coming down the hill leading an even uglier woman than before. He leg shackles the woman to the preacher and heads off back over the hill. The preacher knows his golfing days are over so he leaves the course. The third preacher is disappointed but keeps right on playing golf. He plays for another thousand years and everything going great. He starts to hit a chip shot onto the green when out of the corner of his eye he sees movement. He looks up and Saint Peter is coming down the hill with the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. She is stunning. He is awe-struck. Saint Peter leg-shackles the woman to the preacher. He just stands and stares for a few minutes. Finally, he gets the nerve to say something. He tells her, “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I cannot think of one single thing I’ve done to be leg-shackled to you for eternity.” She says, “I have no idea, either. All I know is that I hit a duck!”

We’re going to complete our study through Ecclesiastes this morning. American novelist Thomas Wolfe said, “Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it is the most lasting and profound.” Solomon has discussed a variety of important things in Ecclesiastes. Let’s look at a quick summary of those important things. First, Solomon says that we are all on a spiritual search. We’re trying to find meaning in our lives in the things of this world. But Solomon says that these worldly things are “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Second, the thrills and accomplishments of this life are incapable of satisfying our spiritual search. And Solomon shares his attempts in this area. He tried every avenue to find meaning in life: wealth, pleasure, education, prestige, and work. But nothing under the sun satisfies. Third, Solomon points out that life presents some troubling mysteries. The more Solomon searched for the meaning of life, the more he discovered that life is unfair, that human wisdom is insufficient for the task, and that death awaits everyone. Fourth, despite the mysteries of life and the reality of death, Solomon says that we have to resolve to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Ecclesiastes 9:10 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” Finally, Solomon says that we should live life in a way that pleases God. Eccl. 11:9b – “Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.” Ecclesiastes 12 New International Version (NIV)
12 Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;
5 when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
    and mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a]
    “Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Footnotes:
Ecclesiastes 12:8, 9 -10, 11
Ecclesiastes 12:8 NKJV - “Vanity of vanities,” says the ...
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+12:8&version=NKJV
Ecclesiastes 12:8. Ecclesiastes 11 Song of Solomon 1 ... Ecclesiastes 11 Song of Solomon 1. Bible Gateway Recommends. NKJV The Maxwell Leadership Bible: LeatherSoft/Charcoal Gray (Revised and Updated) Retail: …
Ecclesiastes 12:8 - Bible Gateway
https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Ecclesiastes 12:8
Ecclesiastes 12:8 . KJ21 ... The vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, the vanity of vanities [Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities], and all things be vanity. (Emptiness and futility, said Ecclesiastes, yea, everything …
Life Sermon by Dan Borchert, Ecclesiastes 11:8-12:8 ...
https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/life-dan-borchert-sermon-on-christian-values-49892
Aug 30, 2002 · Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8. LIFE. Introduction. A. What can I say? B. I don’t think that you want me to say something like “tomorrow is here, today will never not be here unless…. C. Never the less you are at a place in …
Author: Dan Borchert
Ecclesiastes 12:8 - NKJV
https://ebible.com/nkjv/ecclesiastes/12/8
Ecclesiastes 12:8 Remember Your Creator in Your Youth. 8 "Vanity i of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity.". Cross References Psalms 62:9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed …
Ecclesiastes INTRODUCTION, Good News Bible (GNB) | The ...
https://www.bible.com/bible/296/ECC.INTRO1.gnb
Ecclesiastes contains the thoughts of “the Philosopher”, a man who reflected deeply on how short and contradictory human life is, with its mysterious injustices and frustrations, and concluded that “life is useless”. He could not …
Brian Abasciano, Ecclesiastes 12:8-12 ... - Internet Archive
https://archive.org/details/7010423
A sermon on Ecclesiastes 12:8-12 by Brian Abasciano delivered on 8/11/19 at Faith Community Church, Hampton, NH.
Ecclesiastes - Old Testament
www.earlyjewishwritings.com/ecclesiastes.html
Online Text for Ecclesiastes. ... (12:9-11) and a polemical corrective (12:12-14). Furthermore, since 1:12 seems to be the author's introduction to the book, 1:1 may be viewed as a secondary superscription based on 1:12. In addition, a thematic statement, which may derive from Qohelet, forms an envelope around the book (1:2; 12:8…
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 | Prayers4reparation's Blog
https://prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/tag/ecclesiastes-119-128
Posts about Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 written by prayers4reparation. …"If My people who bear My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My presence and turn from their wicked ways, I Myself will hear from …
Daily Reflection - Creighton University
https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2004/092504.html
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 “…Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life …
What Is That Doing In The Bible? – Ecclesiastes | The ...
https://tidesofgod.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/what-is-that-doing-in-the-bible-ecclesiastes
Apr 20, 2015 · Yet Ecclesiastes is attributed to a man reported to have “wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” who was “wiser than any other man”, who …
Sermon Topics: Wisdom, Zeal, Practical Living
Acts 2:1-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[b] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Footnotes:
Acts 2:3 Or And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed among them, and rested
Acts 2:15 That is, 9 a.m.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit