“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:” (Ecclesiastes 11:7)

Solomon, the human author of the Book or Ecclesiastes (see 1:1), presents a beautiful physical truth with a spiritual import in chapter 11, verses 7-10.

Most people awake in the morning to see the light, but there are many who have never seen light – those born blind physically. Others have become blind, because some event has cause blindness to come to their eyes.

When there is no light, there is complete darkness. When one is in darkness, there is a loss of seeing the wonderful creation of God, because of the lack of light.

Therefore, Solomon writes, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” He goes on to write, “But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all…” (11:8a). With this statement, Solomon shifts from the physical to the spiritual; and commands the man who can see light and who lives many years to “rejoice in them all.”

The only true rejoicing is accomplished by the Regenerated Child of God who has the witness that he is “in Christ.” That is, he has the internal witness, by God the Spirit, that he is a son of God.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

These are the ones who possess the Joy of Christ. This Joy comes from the Peace of Christ which resides in the Regenerated Child of God. (See John 15:11; 16:22, 33.)

The Child of God is to rejoice that The Light, Jesus Christ, abides in him.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Therefore, there is no darkness, but only The Light. The Light of God reveals; guides; and instructs. It allows the saved man to rejoice in the Salvation that is in Christ for him, as Christ is his Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior for, and because of, his sin debt. (See Romans 3:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24.)

In Christ, the sin debt has been atoned for, or satisfied, on the sinner’s behalf. Therefore, he has been Reconciled to God; Redeemed out of the curse and penalty of sin; Justified (or declared Righteous) in Christ’s Atonement for him. And later, in Regeneration, he comes to rejoice in the experiential knowledge of his Salvation in Christ. Hallelujah!

However, the saint of God has to live in the flesh on this earth, which is full of trials, troubles, sufferings, and tribulation.

Solomon reveals (11:8b-10 and 12:1-14) that to maintain his “rejoicing,” he must:

Part A. Remember

First:

“…yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many…” (Ecclesiastes 11:8b)

The “days of darkness,” or days of trials, troubles, sufferings, and tribulation, are necessary in the life of the Child of God. God uses these things to test His Children, and to even chastise His Children, if necessary.

Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 8:1-6, that the children of Israel’s forty-year journey in the Wilderness was:
1) To humble them;
2) To prove them; and
3) To know what was in their heart, “whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (verse 2d). (Please read Deuteronomy 8:1-20.)

James wrote that days of tests are needed to produce patience in the Child of God:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” (James 1:2)

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:3)

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)

Then Paul wrote in Romans:

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” (Romans 5:3)

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” (Romans 5:4)

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5)

So patience works experience, and experience works hope.

Therefore, Solomon wrote that in the days of joy don’t forget the why of your joy – which is set against the days of darkness; both spiritually, before regeneration and confession (or conversion); and physically, days of tests to conform you to Christ.

So Remember the days of darkness, and then your days of light will be sweet and pleasant.

Second:

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

The second thing to remember is: “but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

Yes, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.” But as you walk in your youth, remember you will answer to God for your behavior.

There is a judgment for the Child of God to face; not for salvation, but according to their works. (See 1 Corinthians 3:13-17; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.)

Solomon ended the Book of Ecclesiastes with the following words:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

So Remember:
1) The days of darkness (of testing); and
2) That the judgment of God will come concerning our works, good or bad.

Keeping these two things in Remembrance shall keep your Rejoicing fresh and new.

Part B. Remove:

“Therefore remove sorrow (or anger) from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 11:10)

First:

To maintain the saved man’s Rejoicing, he should first “Remove sorrow (or anger) from thy heart.” Jesus is very plain in His Teachings on anger toward another:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22)

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;” (Matthew 5:23)

“Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:24)

Paul speaks on anger in Ephesians:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Ephesians 4:26)

Anger in your heart is a killer of joy, and even of your health. Remember, when you get angry with someone, the one you are angry at is not affected – but you are affected. Anger causes high blood pressure and heart attacks; and it inflames the soul, even to the hurt or possible murder of the one you are angry with.

Anger is a work of the flesh. See Galatians 5:19-21; especially verse 21, “…murders…” It is not the work of the spirit that is regenerated by God the Spirit. See Galatians 5:22-26; verse 26 says, “Let us not be… provoking one another…”

Solomon says, “…remove sorrow (or anger) from thy heart.” Why? Because:

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

Why? Because it produces action; and the action that anger produces is destructive to you and to the one you are angry with.

Second:

To maintain his Rejoicing, a saved man’s second step is to Remove, or put away, “evil from thy flesh.”

Solomon said to a young Child of God, “put away evil from thy flesh”; speaking of immorality, sexual sins, “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness” (Galatians 5:19). Paul said these are “works of the flesh.”

When a young man, or a saved man at any age, walks in the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye – he takes in rottenness to his bones (Proverbs 14:30b); and is headed straightway to destruction (Proverbs 7:22-27).

“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” (Proverbs 7:27)

Read Proverbs 5:1-23, especially verses 20-23:

“And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?” (Proverbs 5:20)

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” (Proverbs 5:21)

“His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” (Proverbs 5:22)

“He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” (Proverbs 5:23)

Therefore, to maintain “Rejoicing,” a saved man must “Remove”:
1) Sorrow from his heart; and
2) Evil from his flesh,

“for childhood and youth are vanity.”

Part C. Return

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

Solomon said the third thing that must be kept in mind to maintain Rejoicing in the light is this – Death is to come to all.

So he said in verses 1-6: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh…” – for you are going to die; and then you will face God.

Death is a sobering thought, even to young people. For death is no respecter of persons. No one knows the day of their death; but only knows that death is sure, and none can stay its hand.

“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.” (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

Therefore, death is sure to all the living:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

So all living will return to God, “and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” You cannot miss this appointment of God. Therefore, young man, middle-aged man, old man – all saved men – you will die.

Death should be an event that should cause you to Rejoice now, in this day:

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24)

For you can’t say about tomorrow, or what it will bring:

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:” (James 4:13)

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14)

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15)

“But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” (James 4:16)

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

So live unto God now, today; knowing at death, you will face God.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)