Temple Baptist Church - 10-5-2025
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Introduction:
A. The word “Ecclesiastes” means the assembler or the one who gathers people together. In context, it refers to a preacher, teacher, or speaker in an assembly—someone who gathers people to teach wisdom.
1. The subject of Ecclesiastes is the search for the true meaning of life.
2. The Key verse of the book is Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
B. Chapter 3 teaches several biblical truths. “To everything … to every purpose … He hath made all things beautiful … in His time!” The Absolute Sovereignty of an Almighty God absolutely controls ALL things! That should “ring your bell” this morning.
1. Verse 1:a. “To every thing there is a season. Verses 2-8 enumerate 27 different times—13 times of joy and 13 times of sorrow. Life is full of joy and laughter, but also of hardship and sorrow. Times of encouragement and discouragement make up life.
2. Verse 1b. “A time to every purpose under heaven.” Here, we find that everything that God made has a purpose. The handiwork of God declares His wisdom and power. Every second of each day has purpose because it is God’s time.
3. Verse 11. “He hath made all things beautiful in His time.” Everything mentioned in verses 2-8, both good and bad, has a time of purpose. As humans, we go through each of the 27 times mentioned and find Romans 8:28 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 explained. All becomes beautiful when done in God’s time.
4. Verse 15. “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” Here, we find history repeated in the present, with future history also prophesied. God gives history to those in the present as a teacher.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— George Santayana (philosopher, 1905)
C. When we think of seasons, we think of change. What comes to mind first of all are the four seasons of weather: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Genesis 8:22 says, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Now it is Fall and I am thankful for it.
D. In each of the 27 mentions of time, there is a dramatic change between each part of the pairs, and these changes are both drastic and life changing.
E. Now, why this introduction? Because there are distinct "seasons" in salvation. While God is gracious and patient, not wanting anyone to perish, there is a specific season of salvation that can be either long or short. Many of us have been taught that we can be saved at any time during our lives, as long as we are still breathing. Although this is a comforting thought, it is not a reliable truth, nor is it supported by Biblical teachings.
F. The Seasons of Salvation.
1. Spiritual Seedtime – our children, though Adamic in nature, are born in innocence.
a. Small children do not know right from wrong and must be taught the difference and how to do the right things. It is in this time of innocence that parents, family, churches, and pastors must teach them right and wrong from the Seed of the Word of God!
b. This season is longer with some children as saved parents begin to teach them the Bible at an early age, also depending upon the length of time that these children reside at home.
c. Therefore, this season of Spiritual Seedtime varies in length, so it is imperative that our children are taught spiritual truth and also be shown spiritual truth through the faithful lives of the parents.
d. The best time to be saved is illustrated in young Timothy. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15) A time before the world can corrupt both minds and lives.
2. Spiritual Summer. Now, as the youths come to physical maturity, a time when children who leave home experience both the joys and the heat of summer.
a. The saved young adults continue in their spiritual growth, while the ones who refused to get saved or did not have a good spiritual home to grow up in are bombarded by the attractions of the world, accompanied by the heat of judgment for the same.
b. Though the gospel still saves, they are no longer saturated with it because they are now out of church and under the influence of the “god of this world,” who hates and destroys them.
3. Spiritual Fall. Middle age. Lives that are now so busy trying to earn a living, heavily in debt through unbiblical spending, and no time for church or the gospel.
a. The process of hardening of the heart is now multiplied as they distance themselves from the gospel because they become humanistic, a philosophy taught be Satan. The god of self! I am fully matured and can do what I want, when I want, where I want, and as much as I want.
b. A dangerous time in life where man becomes self-made and self-sufficient. He needs no one, much less God.
4. Winter Spiritually. Old age. Now people have become set in their ways and are either saved and godly, or they are lost and don’t want to hear about it.
a. There is an old saying that I use often: “It is hard to beat out of the hide what is bred in the bone.” The hardest people to reach are the elderly.
b. Their time is short, but their hearts are hardened! They are dying but still do not want God or His Gospel!
c. There are several instances in the New Testament where people came close to being saved, but failed to come God’s way.
1) The Rich Young Ruler - Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
2) The Scribe - Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
3) King Agrippa - Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
4) Felix - Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (This period of decision for Felix covered a period of app. 2 years!)
5) In each of these instances, I do not find them getting any closer to salvation.
Conclusion: Now, I have said all that to say this:
1. There comes a time in life, after rejection of God and the Gospel, when people cross God’s deadline and are turned over to a reprobate mind that cannot receive the things of God. Notice that I said cannot, not will not. Their “will not” has now become the “cannot” because God is done with them. Their eternity is now set and death and hell await.
2. Do not put salvation off because only “now” is the time of salvation. No other time or place is guaranteed! “Life is short; death is sure; sin the cause; and Christ the cure!”
3. God wants you to be saved: 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
4. But God will not force you to be saved. Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
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