Read Ecclesiastes 9:1–4
Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is
better off than a dead lion!
Ecclesiastes 9:4
Death is not an accident—it is an appointment (Heb. 9:27 KJV), a
destiny that nobody but God can cancel or change.
Life and death are in the hand of God (Eccl. 9:1), and only He
knows our future. Solomon was not suggesting that we are passive actors
in a cosmic drama, following an unchangeable script. Throughout this
book, Solomon emphasizes our freedom of discernment and decision.
But only God knows what the future holds for us and what will happen
tomorrow because of the decisions we make today.
“As it is with the good man, so with the sinner” (v. 2). “If so, why
bother to live a godly life?” we may ask. “After all, whether we obey
the law or disobey, bring sacrifices or neglect them, make or break
promises, we will die just the same.” Yes, we share a common destiny
on earth—death and the grave—but we do not share a common destiny in eternity. For that reason, everybody must honestly face “the
last enemy” (1 Cor. 15:26) and decide how to deal with it. How we
deal with the reality of death reveals itself in the way we deal with the
realities of life.
Something to Ponder
Is there anything you feel you need to do before you die? If so, are you
working toward getting it done?