What’s the point? (Ecc 10-12; 2 Tim 4)

What’s the point? Why keep going? Solomon wrestled with these questions 3000 years ago as he wrote “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” As we have seen this means life is like a vapour or mist that disappears, if you try and grab hold of it, it just disappears faster. How can we make sense of life? How can we not despair?

As Solomon concludes the book, he tells us that we’re heading somewhere that makes every single thing we do significant. The fact that we are heading to face God as our judge is a good thing. It means that all of our life is significant, it all matters. It means how we treat one another matters, it means how we live matters. It means the wicked won’t get away with wickedness. Every sin will be punished.

But, there’s the problem, for all of us have failed. “Fear God and keep His commandments” – but we haven’t.

Our reading from 2 Timothy 4 helps us with this, for here we see the apostle Paul facing judgment with confidence. How? Well it wasn’t based on his good life, remember he described himself as the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). His confidence lies not in himself but in Jesus Christ. He says “I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He knows that even his faith is a gift from God, his confidence is in Jesus Christ. He’s made it to the end of his life trusting in Jesus, and because of this there is a crown of righteousness awaiting him!

Paul looks forward to meeting the righteous judge, because he knows he’s been made right by Jesus. He has loved Christ’s appearing – he’s loved that Jesus came into the world to die for sinners. And Paul says that all who put their trust in Jesus can similarly look forward to judgement day. What joy this brings, what confidence! Every single moment matters, all of life matters, and if we trust Jesus, not only is all our sin pain for, but he graciously rewards us for living for him! What an encouragement to keep going. That’s how Paul kept going despite such fierce opposition. He kept looking up.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever.” (2 Timothy 4:18)