Solomon says that as he watched all the affairs of man parade in front of him, he observed two inescapable truths. First rulers have often abused their authority to the harm of others. Second, although they have had favor in this 04 jesuslife they too died. Ecclesiastes 8:9-10 says, “All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt. Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.”

Solomon goes back to his observations about life “under the sun.” Once again we return to the theme of vanity. Life and all of its experiences are futile. Life marches on before us, under the sun, and what we see is not too positive. No one knows the future! The path of every life ends at the same place; the grave! Look at life and observe all the evil things that happen. It sounds like Solomon is saying “look at life as it marches before us and abandon all hope. It’s meaningless! David Hubbard says, “Ecclesiastes had shown the weaknesses in human views of hope. He had taught his followers in what not to hope; but it took Jesus to show the human family where high hope could be found.” Yes, in some ways, Solomon is saying when we look at life we must scale back our hopes. In direct contrast, Jesus says, “look to me and find real hope.”

Solomon says the future is unknown and in it we find no hope. Jesus gives us the hope of a glorious coming from heaven with glory and power to set everything right. History really is “his” story and will bring a happy ending for all of us. Solomon says the certainty of death and judgment allows for no hope. Jesus answered in John 5:28, “for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth.” The shackles of death fall off for those who trust in Jesus. The resurrection is our destiny. Death is actually a passageway to hope! Judgment for all the wrong we have done leaves us all hopeless. Yet in Christ we can all find forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase for us a place in heaven. We can be saved by God’s grace through faith. There was hope for the thief on the cross and there is hope for you and me. Although death casts its shadow in our lives “under the sun” we do not grieve as those who have no hope! Jesus is the Hope of the world!