How to Die Well

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”-before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 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; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him–before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

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

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

From Meaninglessness to Fullness of Meaning

The Bible tells us there are two ways to die. In John 8:21-24 Jesus Christ speaks about dying in one’s sins, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 the apostle Paul speaks about falling asleep in Jesus. We can die in our sins or die in Jesus Christ. To die well we must live well. What does it mean to live well? It means to live by faith in Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 12 deals with the subject of death. Everyone who is born is going to die sometime. Because this is true, it is extremely important to consider the subject of death and whether we will die well or not. We must consider how to die in Christ, who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

The book of Ecclesiastes contains the philosophical and theological reflections of an old man. The author was a son of David and king of Jerusalem, probably Solomon, whose life was meaningless for the most part because he did not rely on God and live in obedience to his word. The old man wrote this letter, not for old people who are about to die, but for young people so that they could live meaningful lives from their youth on in preparation for a good death.

This man had discovered through his own experience that a life not centered on God is only frustration. Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” A meaningful life is a life in which one looks to God as the ultimate standard and point of reference. To view personal happiness as life’s greatest good is sheer folly. The summum bonum of a human being’s life is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. We are happy truly only when we seek the kingdom of God first.

Someone once said that Ecclesiastes was really intended to be a tract for the conversion of young intellectuals. It is designed to compel them to discard their comfortable, self-flattering illusions and face honestly the instability of all those materialistic props on which they attempt to base their security. In this study we want to examine three things: the props of meaninglessness, the prospect of our certain and inevitable death, and the person of God in Christ, who alone gives meaning to life.

The Props of Meaninglessness

People have many props in their lives, all of which are devised to give them meaning and happiness. Take, for instance, the prop of work. The Preacher tells us that without God all toil is meaningless and frustrating. There is no true satisfaction to be found in labor. The word in Hebrew for meaninglessness is hebel, which means wind, something unsubstantial. It is used thirty-eight times in this short book. That which we consider our success, the Preacher says, is wind, it is nothing, and it is less than nothing. All labor is frustration without God.

What about the prop of intellectualism? This unending research people engage in for the purpose of discovering wisdom outside of God is also totally meaningless. Man knows God from natural and scriptural revelation, yet he will continue to do research incessantly. In fact, research itself has become the be-all and end-all of unbelieving people. Such people find happiness in the continuous research rather than in the knowledge of God they already have. Refusing to worship and serve the God they already know, people actively suppress this knowledge through further research. All such intellectual pursuits will only end in frustration.

What about the prop of riches? What of the amassing of great wealth? The Preacher says even this is meaningless. Greater wealth never brings greater happiness. In fact, the Bible tells us the love of money is root of all evil and that people who run after riches rather than seeking God fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. Such people, the Bible says, pierce themselves with many griefs. We find a number of examples of such people in the Scriptures, including Achan, Balaam, Solomon, Ananias, Sapphira, Judas, and Demas.

Acquisition of money means slavery to a never-ending task. It is like drinking salt water; he who drinks from this well will thirst again. That is what frustration is. Increased income means increased expenditures. The more we have, the more we want to spend, and new bills will be coming in all the time. We will spend, spend, and spend in search of this elusive elixir.

A rich man never sleeps well. As he worries about his investments, whether he will make money or lose it all, he suffers from insomnia and must depend on chemicals. He is also frustrated because he cannot be certain who is going to inherit his wealth. He gets especially frustrated when, after he has amassed his wealth, he realizes he must die and leave so much of his riches to the government!

Remember the rich fool of Luke 12, who planned to build bigger barns to store his fortune? He told himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”

We must die! Naked we came into this world; naked we must go out of this world. So the prop of money and riches is only wind.

What other props are there? Oh, there are the props of political power or building projects. There is the pursuit of beauty and eternal youth through multiple plastic surgeries and the constant search for sensual pleasures. But the truth is, all of this ends in utter frustration. All these props that the world calls success are merely frustration and misery.

The Certain Prospect of Death

Second, we want to speak about the prospect of inevitable and certain death. Everyone who is reading this is going to die. If you don’t believe me, talk to an actuary. He’ll tell you around what age you will probably die. That is how he makes a living.

Solomon tried everything in his quest for happiness and meaning. He had hundreds of wives and concubines, numerous children, many ships, plenty of gold and silver, many friends, and great wisdom. He wrote books, exercised political power, built palaces, and farmed. But he was filled with frustration and, at the end of his life, said all was meaningless.

When we seek happiness directly, we will get only frustration. Only when we seek the glory of God will we be truly happy. St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.” The Westminster Shorter Catechism declares that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”

We all have to die. Solomon realized this, so in verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 12 he wrote, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.” We all must face the stubborn fact that the days of trouble leading to our death will come. Solomon himself had searched for pleasure in every way possible, but when the days of trouble came, he said, “I have no pleasure in these things. All the things I worked for have only disappointed me.”

The Sure Progression to Death

In Ecclesiastes 12:2-7 the Preacher gives us the progression of troubles up to the moment of death. “Remember your Creator,” he says, “before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark.” This is a picture of the coming of the winter of life. Light stands for life, but here it is gone, replaced by cloud and darkness. “The moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain.” In other words, the storm clouds of trouble are coming for us. We can count on it. We will feel a little pain in our chest, and our palms sweat. We will not be able stand because our legs will give way.

In verse 3 we read, “when the keepers of the house tremble. . .” That has to do with our arms and hands trembling. I feel that right now. It is difficult to sign a check, and the bank calls and says, “What’s wrong with you? Your signature is changing.” It’s been changing for a long time now!

Then we read, “and the strong men stoop. . .” That speaks about the legs. The strong men stoop. Once you were the best player in basketball, but now it is not true. Your legs stoop.

Then we read, “and the grinders cease because they are few.” That is speaking about teeth. Those who are young may laugh because they don’t have this problem yet, but the time may come when they can take all the teeth out and put them in a glass of water.

Then we read, “and those looking through the windows grow dim.” That is speaking about the eyes. “When the doors to the street are closed. . .” That is speaking about hearing. “. . . when men rise up at the sound of birds.” As we get older, we who used to sleep ten hours will suffer from insomnia. “. . . and all their songs grow faint.” All music appreciation will be gone. “When men are afraid of heights and dangers in the streets. . . . ” We know what it is. You breathe harder now. Oh, yes, there was a time you went hiking and skiing without problem. Now it is all just a memory.

The Teacher continues, “. . . when the almond trees blossom.” This is speaking about graying of hair everywhere. “. . . and the grasshopper drags himself along.” When you were a child, you went skipping along. Now the spring in your feet is gone and you lumber along. “. . . when desire no longer is stirred.” This is a translation. Actually, in Hebrew it says “when the caper berry doesn’t do any good.” In olden times, caper berries were used for an appetizer as well as an aphrodisiac. But now, no matter what you eat, it won’t do any good. Then Teacher concludes, “Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.” There is a funeral procession, in other words.

In verse 6 we find other metaphors to describe this sure prospect of death: “Remember him before the silver cord is severed or the golden bowl is broken.” That is speaking about a golden lamp fastened to the ceiling by a silver cord. When the cord snaps, the lamp will fall and the light will be put out. Light is a symbol of life, so this is again speaking about a time when life is gone.

We find another metaphor in verse 6: “. . . before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well.” This is speaking about a clay pitcher used for water. You used to go to the spring to get water, but now the pitcher shattered. And not only is the pitcher is shattered, but also the wheel that brought water from the well is broken down. Water is another symbol of life.

Then we read, “and the dust returns to the ground it came from. . . .” This is disintegration. In Genesis 2:7 God made man out of the clay, which is integration. Now there is disintegration, “and the spirit returns to God who made it.” Then we read, “‘Meaningless, meaningless,’ says the Teacher. ‘Everything is meaningless.'” So we see again that a life not centered in God ends only in meaningless, misery, and frustration.

In 2 Samuel 19 we find an illustration of this progression from life to death. There we read about an eighty-year-old man named Barzillai. He was a very rich man who provided for King David in his sojourn when he was running away from his son Absalom. After Absalom was killed, David returned to Jerusalem and Barzillai came to meet him. PGM In 2 Samuel 19:32 we read, “Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, ‘Cross over and stay with me in Jerusalem and I will provide for you.'” In other words, David was saying to Barzillai, “You will have a good time. You can hear great music and eat a lot of fine food, and you can hear about philosophies being discussed. It is great to live in the court of David. Please come.”

How did Barzillai respond to David’s offer? “Barzillai answered the king, ‘How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old; can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks?'” What is the answer? No. “‘Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?'”

This, then, is the inevitability of disintegration and death. The light is about to go; the pitcher is about to be broken; dust returns to dust; and the soul is separated from the body. All of this is the result of man’s separation from God. That is what death is. All of this is a result of human sin. It is not God’s plan.

All is meaningless, the Preacher says. He began by saying all is meaningless, and now he ends with the same. All of life is meaningless if self-centered and autonomous. This meaninglessness is divine judgment upon human sin. Man is created to have fellowship with God and enjoy him forever. He cannot find any true meaning and happiness apart from God.

The Person of God in Christ: Our Meaning and Life

The third point we want to discuss is the person of God in Christ, which is our meaning and life. We are told in verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 12, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,” and in verse 14, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Without God all of life is meaningless and chasing after wind. Nothing makes sense without God.

The life of a godless person is a continuous restlessness. For example, a godless man cannot live with his wife; he has to divorce her because of his constant restlessness. The Preacher says, “Remember your Creator.” The problem is worship of creation, which is idolatry, rather than worship of the Creator. A godless man looks for meaning, purpose, satisfaction, and happiness in creation. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto us.

But God, who created everything, will not tolerate idolatry. Because God created us, we are his and must do his will. That is why the Preacher says, “Remember the Creator in the days of your youth.” What is the biblical meaning of the word “remember”? In Psalm 119:55 we read, “In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law.” Remembrance is not some kind of mental reflection that does not affect our life. To remember God means to be governed by him. We must order our lives in the light of God’s word. We must seek God and do his will. That is what remembrance is all about.

In Judges 8 we find a clear contrast between this idea of remembering God with idolatry: “They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side” (vv. 33-34). Here the idea of a life governed by God is contrasted with one of idolatry.

How Can We Remember God?

To remember God means to live by God’s word. Thus, we must oppose all autonomy. We must realize that we are not our own; we belong to God, who created us. If we eliminate him, we will become fools. Without God we will be meaningless, restless, miserable, and depressed. We must abandon the idea that we can live a life of independence. We all live and move and have our being in God.

What, then, is the counsel of the old preacher? “Remember your Creator.” In other words, he is saying, “Remember, repent, return, and render obedience to your God. Let the fear of God govern you. Get back to his commandments. Get back to the word of God. Be regulated by his unchanging word.”

It is in divine rule, not autonomy, we find meaning. We must be born again and enter into the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. But how can a rebel, a sinner, come to God and enjoy fellowship with him? Paul tells us the unbeliever is without God and without hope in the world. He is dead in his trespasses and sins.

We need a savior, a mediator, a high priest who will, through his sacrifice, restore us to God. The word of God tells us we have such a mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Word, the eternal Son of God, who came into this world in our behalf. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord was upon him and he lived to please God.

This Jesus said, “In the volume of the book it is written of me.” He came to do the will of God and glorify him. He lived a perfect life and pleased God always. He lived for us and died as our substitute, bearing our sins on the cross. He is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.

He calls to himself all sinners who are weary and heavy-laden, sinners who are tired of living meaningless, miserable lives. He calls us to himself, saying, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” He says, “I will put an end to your research, for only in me will you find meaning, purpose, life, hope.” Jesus Christ is righteousness, sanctification and redemption for us. He is our peace and eternal life. He destroyed death by his once-for-all death on the cross, and he offers to all rebels eternal life freely.

Without Jesus Christ there is no meaning in life. But he who trusts in Jesus Christ and follows him shall never die, and he will give us eternal pleasures in his presence. Those who repent and believe in this Savior will fear God, love God, and delight in obeying his word. To such a person all of life will be meaningful. Such a person, whether he eats or drinks or whatever he does, will do it all for the glory of God. All of life is meaningful in Christ; outside of Jesus Christ nothing is meaningful.

Stop Chasing Wind and Seek God!

What, then, should a young person do to have a meaningful life and die well? He should stop chasing after the wind and seek God, who is seeking us. The Bible tells us Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost. Therefore, let us seek him now, for he says, “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Seek him when you are young. Seek him at five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years of age, before the days of trouble come.

You must seek God now, not later in life. In Ecclesiastes 12:1 we read, “Remember your Creator . . . before the days of trouble come.” Notice that word “before.” In verse 2 we read, “before the sun and light and the moon and the stars grow dark. . .” In verse 6 we read, “Remember him before the silver cord is severed. . . before the pitcher is shattered at the spring.” “Before” means now. That means you need to remember God now, when you are young, because the more you sin, the more you are hardened against God. That is why it is very rare for an older person to come to know Jesus Christ. The other reason you need to serve God in youth is that we never know when God will demand our souls from us. Never think that because you are young, you have many more years before you can turn to God. You may die today, as many people have.

Notice, then, the last verse in Ecclesiastes 12: “For God will bring every deed into judgment.” Here we find the final reason why we must remember our Creator in the days of our youth. If life is meaningless, there will not be any judgment. But life is full of meaning; therefore, there is going to be a judgment. The question we all must answer is: Will I be justified on that day? The Bible tells us it is appointed for man once to die and then comes the judgment. Elsewhere we read that the appointed judge is Jesus Christ himself, who died and rose again. He will judge everything we have ever imagined, thought, and done, whether good or evil.

On the day of judgment God will expose all our secrets. The psalmist said in Psalm 90:8, “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.” It is there. Jesus said there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. The inevitable physical death we read about in Ecclesiastes is a prelude to the eternal death that is awaiting people on the day of God’s judgment. Paul said this judgment will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ as his gospel declares. On that day the books of our thoughts and works will be opened, and everyone whose name is not found in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is eternal death.

Will You Die Well?

A person who lives without God is living a life of total frustration and folly. So the Preacher is saying, “Turn to Jesus Christ now. Call upon him and be saved. Then you will enjoy life, eternal life. In his presence is fullness of joy; on his right hand eternal pleasures.

When you have trusted in Jesus Christ, you can pray the prayer of William Laud: “Grant, O Lord, that we may live in thy fear, die in thy favor, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, reign in thy glory. For thine own beloved Son’s sake, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then you will be able to answer the man who says everything is meaningless; that there is no morality, design, or purpose; that we are chemically determined; that everything is matter; that there is no living and true God; that everything is in vain and, therefore, we can do what we please. Then you can say to such a person, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory” . . . . Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:54, 58). There it is: the meaning in the person of Jesus Christ.

How can a person die well? By living a good life. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Remember Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Look to his gospel and keep his words. When you do these things, you shall die in hope of the glory of God, and at your death the angels shall bear your soul to the glorious presence of our God.

Don’t worry about where others went. They had their opportunity to trust in Jesus Christ, but rejected him and chose their own way. Today, if you hear his voice, I urge you not to harden your heart. Life without Christ is a life of utter frustration. I plead with you to call upon the name of the Lord, trust in him, and you shall be saved. Amen.