The mind is a battlefield. Our sermon text, Ecclesiastes 9:1-4 pointed toward that conclusion. Pastor Josh opened the sermon with, “It rains on the just and the unjust.” It’s a reference to Matthew 5:45. Of course the opening of that verse also speaks of the sun shining on the good and the bad. Ecclesiastes 9:1 has a similar drumbeat to it except Solomon is saying that all things happen to everyone regardless of whether you are good or bad.
At this point Pastor Josh reminded us of the two verses at the end of Ecclesiastes, “…fear God and keep his commandments…for God shall bring everything into judgment.” This was to prepare us for verse 3 which speaks of madness in the hearts of the sons of men. The verse speaks of evil residing in all that is done. Men are full of evil and madness is in their hearts—then they die. Dying is the end of being on this earth.
Just think of all the thoughts that go through the mind at any given time. Left unbridled they can turn into fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, feelings of uselessness, and the list goes on. That’s madness of the mind. Satan can turn thoughts into disaster—yelling, hitting, breaking things, hurting others, or hurting themselves. It takes faith to hold those thoughts at bay, to control them, to realize that the evil one is trying to destroy who and whatever he can.
Matthew 25:41 Jesus says that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels. That’s the judgment spoken of for those who go through this life on earth and are not born again (John 3:5-7). Revelation 20:11-15 also speaks of what happens to those whose names are not written in the Book of Life.
Verse 4 of Ecclesiastes 9 says that as long as man is living, there is hope. All that live know they will die. That day is coming. Until then there are plenty of verses in the Bible that speak of the mind: Proverbs 4:23, 23:7; Mark 12:30, Romans 7:25, 8:6, 12:2; II Corinthians 10:4-5, Philippians 2:5, Titus 1:15, and others.
At this point Pastor Josh reminded us of the two verses at the end of Ecclesiastes, “…fear God and keep his commandments…for God shall bring everything into judgment.” This was to prepare us for verse 3 which speaks of madness in the hearts of the sons of men. The verse speaks of evil residing in all that is done. Men are full of evil and madness is in their hearts—then they die. Dying is the end of being on this earth.
Just think of all the thoughts that go through the mind at any given time. Left unbridled they can turn into fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, feelings of uselessness, and the list goes on. That’s madness of the mind. Satan can turn thoughts into disaster—yelling, hitting, breaking things, hurting others, or hurting themselves. It takes faith to hold those thoughts at bay, to control them, to realize that the evil one is trying to destroy who and whatever he can.
Matthew 25:41 Jesus says that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels. That’s the judgment spoken of for those who go through this life on earth and are not born again (John 3:5-7). Revelation 20:11-15 also speaks of what happens to those whose names are not written in the Book of Life.
Verse 4 of Ecclesiastes 9 says that as long as man is living, there is hope. All that live know they will die. That day is coming. Until then there are plenty of verses in the Bible that speak of the mind: Proverbs 4:23, 23:7; Mark 12:30, Romans 7:25, 8:6, 12:2; II Corinthians 10:4-5, Philippians 2:5, Titus 1:15, and others.
