Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 The Reality of Death (January 4, 2025 PM, Dr. Michael Grasso)

"In this sermon from Ecclesiastes 9:1–10, we face one of the most unavoidable realities of life under the sun: death. Solomon shows us that both the righteous and the wicked share the same observable fate in this world—suffering and death—and that God’s providence cannot be interpreted merely by what we see happening around us.

This passage confronts the temptation to judge God’s favor or displeasure by prosperity, suffering, or length of life. Solomon makes clear that such judgments cannot be made from observation alone. Death comes to all, and life in a fallen world is marked by sorrow, injustice, and brevity. These realities are the universal effects of the curse introduced in Genesis 3.

Yet Solomon does not lead us into despair. Instead, he teaches us how the fear of God transforms our understanding of life’s transitory nature. While death renders all earthly things fleeting, it does not render them meaningless. For those who fear the Lord, suffering and death are not signs of rejection. God’s approval rests on His people even as they suffer, and ultimate justice lies beyond this life.

Because God has already accepted those who fear Him, Solomon exhorts believers to enjoy life as a gift from God—to eat and drink with joy, to cherish marriage and family, to work diligently, and to receive everyday blessings with gratitude. Life is short, and these gifts will not last forever, but they are real blessings meant to be enjoyed while God gives them.

This sermon also points us beyond Ecclesiastes to the gospel itself. The believer’s ability to live with joy in a dying world rests on the certainty of eternal life in Christ. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, death does not have the final word. God’s approval, secured through justification in Christ, gives us freedom to live gratefully and faithfully even in a world marked by suffering and loss.

Life is fleeting. Death is certain. But for those who fear God and trust in Christ, joy is not denied—it is redeemed."