Grace Fellowship Sunday Morning 11:15 Service May 16, 2005
Pastor Bob Yandian

(Ecc 12:1) 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;

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as a sort of opposite to the Proverbs. He tried to go and do the worldly things and see if there was satisfaction there. What he is saying in this verse is do not let your enjoyment be in things all around you, they will soon be gone.

The key to enjoying life can be found in Hebrews 2:15

(Heb 2:15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus came to deliver us from fear of death. We are not to fear it. Fear comes from ignorance.

Biblical views of death:

1. Gospel can be spread in your death as well as your life:
Phi 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Phi 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Phi 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Phi 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Phi 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

2. It is alright to look forward to being with God in heaven.
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

3. Spiritual strength replaces natural strength as you get older.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

4. Old age is the time to pass on blessings.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

Two things that you need to remember in your Christian life.
1. Quit living in the past.
2. Live your life to be a blessing to others.


Application to my life today: Since I am approaching the later time of my life this is appropriate. Death is a focus of life as one gets older. I never have feared death; at times I thought I would welcome it. But here it is quite clear that I can be effective in life. On the other hand, do not fear it, others can still come to know Jesus through my passing.

Note: All notes are my interpretation of what the speaker said and not necessarily what they said. All verses are King James version.