Rejoice, Remove, Remember
Book of Ecclesiastes • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Read Together: Ecclesiastes 11:7 “7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:”
Introduction
Introduction
Chasing Daylight* by Eugene O'Kelly (with Andrew Postman and Corinne O’Kelly) is a reflective memoir written by a high-powered corporate CEO who receives a sudden diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. With only three months to live, O’Kelly chooses to live intentionally, resigning from his position, reconnecting with loved ones, and simplifying his life. Rather than lamenting lost years, he learns to be fully present, savor ordinary moments, and leave a legacy of peace and purpose.
Key Quote: “I discovered that the less time I had, the more important each moment became.”
In the spirit of Ecclesiastes, this sermon challenges us to:
In the spirit of Ecclesiastes, this sermon challenges us to:
1. Always rejoice in every day that starts with a sunrise.
2. Actively remove sin and anxiety from your life.
3. Acknowledge the advantages of the season that you are in.
I. Always rejoice in days that starts with a sunrise.
I. Always rejoice in days that starts with a sunrise.
A. Life is a sweet gift from a good God
A. Life is a sweet gift from a good God
Ecclesiastes 11:7 “7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:”
Every sunrise is a reminder: life is a good gift from a good God.
Jesus enjoyed life, meals, friendship, and worship. He was not stoic.
1 Timothy 6:17 — God gives us all things richly to enjoy.
B. Learn to rejoice in every season
B. Learn to rejoice in every season
Ecclesiastes 11:8 “8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.”
Sometimes they tell us that youth is for fun; middle age is for work; and old age is for God. That’s not true. Every age is for fun, work, and most importantly for God.
Joy must be rooted in reality—not naivety.
Most of what comes your way is smoke.
C. Live joyfully with eternal accountability
C. Live joyfully with eternal accountability
Ecclesiastes 11:9 “9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”
We are not owners but stewards of our lives.
He’s not saying, “Young people, sow your wild oats.” That’s not what He’s saying. He’s saying, “Have the joy of the Lord. But remember, God is watching.”
Play by the rules. God’s laws do not restrict us; they liberate us. Learn to rejoice.
Transition: Not only should we learn to rejoice, but we need to learn to rest.
Transition: Not only should we learn to rejoice, but we need to learn to rest.
II. Actively Remove Sin and Anxiety from Your Life
II. Actively Remove Sin and Anxiety from Your Life
A. Learn to rest by removing resentment and bitterness
A. Learn to rest by removing resentment and bitterness
Ecclesiastes 11:10 “10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.”
Don’t waste any stage of life in bitterness or regret.
Get the anger out. Get the resentment out. Learn to rest.
Bitterness poisons joy. Rest begins with forgiveness and surrender.
B. Understand the root causes of anxiety
B. Understand the root causes of anxiety
Anxiety comes from trying to control what we can’t.
Solomon teaches that the more we know, the more we realize how limited and fragile life is.. Ecclesiastes 1:18 “18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
Anxiety takes over when we try to carry a burden we were never meant to bear—the burden of knowing and controlling the outcome.
The antidote is enjoying God's gifts in the present.
Solomon repeatedly returns to this theme: Live! Rejoice! Do good while you can. Ecclesiastes 3:12 “12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.”
Joy is a spiritual discipline—a way of saying, “God, I trust You enough to enjoy what You've given me today.”
Faith-fueled action defeats fear. Ecclesiastes 11:4 “4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”
Fear-based delay is disobedience in disguise. Faith acts, even when the winds are swirling and clouds are looming.
Following Christ will always involve risk—but the greater risk is wasting your life in worry and self-protection.
C. Turn from sin early while your heart is still soft
C. Turn from sin early while your heart is still soft
Ecclesiastes 11:10 “10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.”
Youth is fleeting—use your energy to serve, not sin.
Youth is vanity, it is as smoke.
You are get one chance at this.
The longer sin is allowed to stay, the deeper it entangles.
What begins as a “harmless indulgence” in youth often becomes a lifelong struggle.
Hebrews 3:13 warns us: “Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Turn early—before your conscience is dull and your heart is calloused.
How? Psalm 119:9 “9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
Transitional Statement: When sin is removed and anxiety is quieted, we can finally see the value of the season we’re in.
Transitional Statement: When sin is removed and anxiety is quieted, we can finally see the value of the season we’re in.
III. Acknowledge the advantages of the season that you are in.
III. Acknowledge the advantages of the season that you are in.
Different yard equipment.
A. Remember God now, not later
A. Remember God now, not later
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”
Remembering = obeying, trusting, prioritizing
Rogers: “Life is a mystery; life is an adventure; life is a test.”
B. Recognize the challenges of growing older
B. Recognize the challenges of growing older
The dimming of life’s light. Ecclesiastes 12:2 “2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:”
Life is compared to a day drawing to a close.
The darkened sun, moon, and stars represent fading vitality, joy, and clarity.
Clouds returning after rain picture lingering troubles and compounded sorrows in old age. / Or having to go to the bathroom right after having gone.
The breakdown of the body Ecclesiastes 12:3 “3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,”
Keepers of the house shall tremble – Hands and arms begin to shake.
Strong men shall bow themselves – Legs and back weaken, stooping posture.
Grinders cease because they are few – Teeth are lost or decayed.
Those that look out of the windows be darkened – Failing eyesight dims vision.
The loss of senses and social life. Ecclesiastes 12:4 “4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;”
Doors shall be shut in the streets – Diminished hearing; the world feels more distant.
Sound of the grinding is low – Diminished appetite and reduced energy.
Rise up at the voice of the bird – Light, restless sleep; easily awakened.
Daughters of musick shall be brought low – Hearing loss makes music faint or unenjoyable.
The fears and frailty of old age. Ecclesiastes 12:5 “5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:”
Afraid of that which is high – Fear of heights and falling.
Fears shall be in the way – Simple tasks become intimidating.
Almond tree shall flourish – White hair, like almond blossoms.
Grasshopper shall be a burden – Small tasks feel overwhelming.
Desire shall fail – Passions, appetites, and motivation decline.
5. The Nearness of Death Ecclesiastes 12:5 “5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:”
Man goeth to his long home – A poetic reference to death and the grave.
Mourners go about the streets – Funeral preparations and public grieving begin.
C. Let age bring clarity and eternal focus
C. Let age bring clarity and eternal focus
Ecclesiastes 12:6–8 “6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”
“For the Christian, the purpose of life is to glorify God by growing in grace until the very end. Therefore, dying well is one of the last great responsibilities of the Christian life.”
— J.I. Packer
Wisdom isn’t found in nostalgia but perspective. Ecclesiastes 7:10 “10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.”
Barth: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
The older we get the more we should learn to rejoice, remove, and remember. John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
You are not old in here. You are seasoned. We need you.
You may recognize the limitations that you now have.
Do not be frustrated but recognize that in this season you are greatly needed to disciple those who have youth as their advantage.
Transitional Statement: As we age and see more clearly what truly matters, Ecclesiastes leads us to the ultimate question—not just how to live well, but how to die well—and that answer is only found at the cross.
Transitional Statement: As we age and see more clearly what truly matters, Ecclesiastes leads us to the ultimate question—not just how to live well, but how to die well—and that answer is only found at the cross.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
A. The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes Leads to the Cross
A. The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes Leads to the Cross
The Preacher invites us to live wisely and fear God because judgment is coming.
But the New Testament reveals more: God sent His Son to bear that judgment for us.
B. Jesus Fulfills the Longing of Ecclesiastes
B. Jesus Fulfills the Longing of Ecclesiastes
John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let us eat, drink, and be merry—for yesterday we were dead, but today we are alive in Christ!
C. The Gospel Frees Us to Rejoice, Remove, and Remember
C. The Gospel Frees Us to Rejoice, Remove, and Remember
Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Titus 2:11–13 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Hebrews 9:27–28 “27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
D. Gospel Invitation
D. Gospel Invitation
Life under the sun is vanity without Christ.
Come to Him. Rejoice in Him. Be cleansed and made new.
Today is the day of salvation—not tomorrow. Remember your Creator now.
