Under the Sun - DJ Dickerson - 4/19/26

This evening in our sermon and song

service, the theme I have chosen is

entitled Under the Sun. So, in your

Bibles, I would encourage you to turn to

Ecclesiastes chapter 1. We're going to

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

have uh several readings from

Ecclesiastes chapter 1. And um friends,

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

I would submit to you in this sermon and

song we're we're doing tonight that

there are uh some portions of of

scripture that comfort us immediately.

Uh and then there are others that

confront us first before

they comfort us. And Ecclesiastes

is one of those books. uh it does not

actually begin by lifting us. It

actually begins by stripping us. Solomon

does not start by telling us how good

life feels.

He starts by telling us

how empty life can be. So let's start

with our first scripture reading.

Brother Daniel Cecil will lead us in

Ecclesiastes chapter 1 and verses 1- 3.

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

>> Vanity of vanity, says the teacher.

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What

do people gain from all the toil at

which they toil under the sun?

So what we're going to sing is life like

vapor in the morning. Like vapor in the

morning. This is a new song and it is to

the tune of abide with me. You must have

a handout though to sing this song. So,

if you did not get one, it was on the

stand, but there are still several back

there. You need one or share with

someone.

We're going to sing first, fourth, and

fifth verses of this song like vapor in

the morning.

The

morning

by thy passing

Sh.

The son

is

teach us

to

number

our days.

Guide our hearts

in my

thy

breath.

trusting

me through life and

care.

God still

with our hearts and

then

all

faith and rightous

for

the

life.

The sun is free.

In

Christ we find

eternal

heaven.

Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.

That word vanity paints the picture of a

vapor.

Something you can see for a moment in

the cold air and then it disappears.

Now, it looks real,

but it doesn't last. And Solomon repeats

it for emphasis. Vanity of vanities. And

that really is the highest degree of

emptiness.

Why would God include a book like this

in scripture might be the question that

we might have?

Well, because

before a man will ever

seek what is eternal, he must first

realize that what is temporary will

never satisfy.

Ecclesiastes

is a way in which God is saying, "If you

build your life on the wrong foundation,

I will let you feel how empty it is." So

then you will seek what is right.

So what we noted in the first three

verses is really the empty return of

life under the sun. Solomon asked a

question that echoes actually across

every generation. That is what prophet

has a man.

This is not a question about activity.

It's a it's a question about outcome.

Not what are you doing, but what are you

gaining that last? And he anchors the

question with that key phrase under the

sun. And that phrase appears repeatedly

in Ecclesiastes and describes life lived

from an earthly

perspective without uh reference to God,

eternity or spiritual purpose. And

Solomon's conclusion is clear. And what

is that conclusion? There is no lasting

profit. You know, a a man can climb the

ladder, can build a business, can

accumulate the wealth, can earn the

respect, can achieve the goals, and the

list could go on. And you know what?

They can still end up empty

because everything under the sun

is temporary.

And that's what Jesus even echoed that

same truth in Matthew 16 verse 26. For

Matthew 16:26

what profit is it to a man if he gains

the whole world and loses his own soul?

Or what will a man give in exchange for

his soul?

Solomon asked the question and Jesus

gave the answer.

You think about a a man who fills

buckets with water at the edge of the

ocean and pouring them uh into a hole in

the sand trying to fill it. That just

sounds kind of silly, doesn't it?

because he works tirelessly bucket after

bucket after bucket effort after effort

after effort but the water keeps

draining out

because the foundation can't hold it.

That's why

and that's what happens as Solomon tells

us when we try to build a meaningful

life without God that no matter how much

we pour into it

achievement and pleasure recognition it

never holds

Luke 12 and verse 15 and he said to them

take heed and beware of covetousness for

one's life does not consist in the

abundance of the things he possesses

or James 4 and verse14 as we just sang

about one of the places in that verse is

whereas you do not know what will happen

tomorrow for what is your life it is

even a v vapor that appears for a little

time and then vanishes away so what

we're asking and we must ask is am I

living for what is temporary or eternal

is my identity rooted in Christ or in

accomplishments am I measuring my life

by what heaven measures.

Because the warning is clear from

Solomon, a person may spend years

striving and building and gaining and

pursuing success. Yet, if all of it is

lived only under the sun, it will one

day be found empty.

One may accumulate wealth and still be

poor in spirit. One may gain applause

and still lose peace.

One may fill the schedule and yet starve

the soul.

The tragedy is not merely climbing.

It's climbing in the wrong direction.

Because a man can spend his whole life

climbing and still end up leaning his

ladder against the wrong wall.

That is why

the answer to the emptiness of life

under the sun is set is to set our

sights above the sun.

We must seek higher ground. We must lift

our eyes from what is temporary to what

is eternal, from what is fading to what

is lasting,

from what man builds to what God gives.

And with that thought in mind, we're

going to sing together

number 109, verses 1 and 4. Brother Kyle

Copelan will lead us in this song. Then

we'll have our next scripture reading by

brother Keith Massie from Ecclesiastes

1:es 4-1 11 followed by the song As the

Dear number 589 of Brother Mike Burton.

I'm pressing on the upward

new

onward.

Lord me on higher

ground.

Lord lift me up and let me stand

my faith on heaven.

that I have found. Lord, plant me on

higher

ground.

I want to live above the world.

The Satan stars

and me are

for

the joyful sound. The song of saints on

higher

ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand

by heaven.

a higher place

than I have found. Lord

ground.

I want to scale

most high

and catch up

on glory.

But still I'll pray, still have my

Lord lead me onto higher

ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand

by.

Lord, mighty on.

I've always thought in reading

Ecclesiastes, it was written so man

could look and read at it, read the

verses and be humble

of the things that we cannot know. We

live in a time of of information age and

and we have we've create created

artificial intelligence and there's so

many people that look to that and that

has to be the way it is. But when we go

through these verses and we read, we

should ask ourself and we should realize

that all knowledge comes from God. Man

does not create knowledge. Beginning in

verse four, one generation passes away

and another generation comes, but the

earth abides forever. The sun also rises

and the sun goes down and hastens to the

place where it arose. The wind goes

toward the south and turns around to the

north. The wind whirls about continually

and comes again on its circuit. All

rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is

not full to the place from which the

river comes.

There they return again. All things are

full of labor. Man cannot express it.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear filled with hearing. That

which has been is what will be. That

which is done is what will be done. And

there is nothing new under the sun. Is

there anything of which it may be said?

See, this is new.

It has already been in ancient times

before us. There is no remembrance of

the former things,

nor

will there be any remembrance of things

that are to come by those who will come

after you.

As the dear

soul

you

are my heart

desire

and I

toship

you.

You are

my strength, my shield.

To you

may sp

You

are my heart

and I want

to worship

you.

I want you more than gold

or silver. Only you can.

You

are the real

joy

and the apple

of

my heart.

You

are my strength, my shield.

to you alone.

May my spirit

you

are my heart

desire

and my

toship

you.

If life under the sun offers no lasting

return,

Solomon then shows us something else.

Life under the sun also feels like a

neverending cycle,

the endless cycles of a broken world.

You know, in that passage that brother

Keith was reading there,

Solomon turns his attention really to

creation itself and what he sees is

repetition. You go down through those

verses, verse four, down through verse

7, the generations, they do what? They

come and go. Uh the sun, what does it

do? It rises and sets. The wind circles

about and rivers flow endlessly.

And what's interesting is what you

notice in verses 4-7

is everything is moving

but nothing is ever arriving. Y'all

notice that

everything's active

but nothing is fulfilled.

Now this is not what we'd say uh just a

scientific observation.

This is a spiritual one. Solomon is

saying life without God, you know, it

feels like motion without meaning.

That's exactly what it is. Life without

God feels like motion without meaning.

What does verse eight say? The eye is

not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear

filled with hearing. And friends, that's

the human condition.

You see something, what do you naturally

do after that? You see something, you

want it. Well, what's the next thing you

do? Well, you get it. And how long does

it satisfy

briefly

and then what do you want next? Well,

you want something else. That's the

cycle.

It's like, you know, we use our cell

phones for example. It's like it's like

scrolling endlessly on a phone. Uh you

keep looking uh you keep searching, you

keep consuming, but you never feel

satisfied. There's always something else

to see. There's always something else to

to chase. And really that's kind of the

modern version of Ecclesiastes 1 if you

think about it. But look what even from

the very beginning Adam and Eve.

It's interesting as you see this cycle

that began in this broken world that sin

certainly brought in. Our next scripture

reading we want to consider is from

first John chapter 2 and verses 15-1 17.

1 John 2 · chapter mention

Brother Keith Wines will lead that

passage there for us. 1 John 2:15-17.

1 John 2:15–17

Do not love the world, nor the things in

the world. If anyone loves the world,

the love of the father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust

of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,

and the boastful pride of life is not

from the father, but is from the world.

The world is passing away, and also its

lust. But the one who does the will of

the go will of God continues to live

forever.

>> So Solomon has has shown us the weary

repetition of life in a fallen world,

hasn't he? And that's what we were just

reading there from 1 John chapter 2.

1 John 2 · chapter mention

What's it say? That lust of lies, right?

What is all this? What is all those

things? Lust of the flesh and the pride

of life. Those are all fading. They're

passing away.

The sun rises and sets. The wind circles

back again. The rivers run continually.

Yet nothing under the sun is ever truly

made complete. The cycle continues, but

the heart of man remains restless. Think

about this world of motion that we live

in today. Yet so many are going nowhere.

We're surrounded by activity, yet

starving for meaning.

Many today, I'll tell you, are

exhausted.

Not because they lack opportunity, but

because they are chasing things that

never satisfy.

one thing to another, one purchase, one

distraction, hoping that the next thing

will finally bring peace. But the soul

cannot be nourished for by what that is,

what is temporary. It cannot be anchored

by what's passing away. It doesn't work

that way. That's what the scriptures

make abundantly clear that a busy life,

friends, can still be an empty life if

it's disconnected from God.

Because a full calendar does not

guarantee a full heart.

Endless motion does not equal true

progress. One may be constantly occupied

and yet spiritually a drift at the same

time.

The answer is not merely to do more,

but to hold fast to what is eternal,

steady, and sure.

In a changing world where everything

beneath under the sun is shining or is

shifting and uncertain, there is one

whose hand never fails, whose promises

never fade

and whose truth never changes. We're

going to turn our hearts to that

wonderful reality as we sing 463. Hold

to God's unchanging hand. Brother Kyle

Hill will lead us in that song.

Following that, that's all verses of

that song. Brother Keith Massie will

lead us in our next scripture of

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18

And then following that scripture

reading, Psalm 119, only in thee,

brother Kyle Hill will lead us in that

song.

transition

can stand

to God's unchanging hand

to God's unchanging ing

to God's unchanging hands

eternal

to God's unchanging hand.

Trust in him who will not be

my earthly friends for

still

God's unchanging hand.

Oh

to God's unchanging hand.

Build your hopes on things eternal

to God's unchanging hand.

When your journey is completed

to God, you have been true

and bright in glory.

been raptured. So will you

to God's unchanging hand

to God's unchanging hands

on things

to God's unchanging hand.

I the preacher was king over Israel in

Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek

and search out by wisdom concerning all

that is done under heaven. This

burdensome task God has given to the

sons of man by which they may be

exercised. I have seen all the works

that are done under the sun, and indeed

all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

What is crooked cannot be straight, and

what is lacking cannot be numbered. I

communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I

have attained greatness. I have gained

more wisdom than all who were before me

in Jerusalem. My heart has understood

great wisdom and knowledge. I set my

heart to know wisdom and to know madness

and folly. I perceive that this also is

grasping for the wind. For in much

wisdom is much grief, and he who

increases knowledge increases sorrow.

for 11 only in

only the

dwelling

mine

can take

from

of earth

seemingly sweet

to me

and

my

complete

holy dear Lord

Holy

Like a be

in the night,

guiding my pill

over my

trous

And with temp

I am

there is a sweet

rest

only dear Lord

in

and me

slain.

My

name

trusting my

every

heart will be

till In the land where

we lost

heaven.

So if activity

that we talked about briefly doesn't

satisfy, cycles don't satisfy, perhaps

wisdom will. Well, as we find from

Ecclesiastic writer, the limits, there

are certainly limits of human wisdom.

Solomon said, "And I set my heart to

know,

seek, to search out wisdom."

You know, I was thinking about if anyone

could figure out life intellectually,

certainly it would be Solomon.

And yet, what does he conclude? He says,

"This also is grasping for the wind."

You know, wisdom reveals reality,

but wisdom cannot repair it.

The more Solomon understood life,

there is more things that he saw. I

could make a brief list.

The more

Solomon understood life, the more he saw

injustice, the more he saw brokenness,

the more he saw limitations, the more he

saw death.

And it grieved him. I know this because

verse 18 says it. For in much wisdom is

much grief.

I was thinking about

in the perspective of

going into a dirty room

and you turn on a bright light.

Now, the light does doesn't create

the mess.

It simply reveals it.

And the way I think of it, the clearer

you see it, the more overwhelming it

feels.

As we said, we just turn the light back

off.

But

that is what wisdom does without God.

You know, Paul spoke about this in 1

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 1. He talked about

the world through wisdom did not know

God. Verse 20 and 21 he speaks of that.

And then in Colossians 2 and verse three

he says in Christ though are hidden all

the treasures of wisdom.

See, Solomon is reminding us that, you

know, there's there's value in wisdom,

but also understanding that it has its

limits because he sought understanding,

he sought learning, he sought uh

knowledge, and yet found that human

wisdom alone could not heal the

brokenness of the human condition. It

could expose problems. It could expose

issues,

but not erase them.

could even solve it.

It could diagnose sorrow

but couldn't deliver joy.

It could increase awareness yet still

leave the heart unsatisfied.

You know, our world, our society

believes education and progress will

solve everything.

friends, look back over the years.

There's nothing new under the sun. And

we have a lot of things. We think about,

you know, the the generations that are

coming up and all these different

explorations and all these things

and look at the brokenness that's still

around. We we're still dealing with it

because knowledge alone cannot fix sin.

We have more information than any

generation before us.

Yet confusion remains.

We have advanced in technology and

medicine and communication. Yet what do

we still wrestle with?

Pride, greed, lust, hatred, and despair.

That's what we're dealing with still.

Because the greatest problems of man are

not merely intellectual. They're

spiritual

friends. The mind can discover truth,

but only God can deliver meaning.

Because yes, the intellect may they may

take us far.

It certainly may,

but it can't carry us home.

Reason can point to the need, but only

grace can actually meet it. Human wisdom

may tell us what is wrong, but divine

wisdom reveals what is right and what is

good and how to be made whole.

That is why our confidence must rest not

merely in what we know

but in whom we know.

Our faith is not anchored in theories or

trends or the changing opinions of men

because that's changed a lot, hasn't it?

But our faith is to be anchored in the

living Christ who saves, sustains, and

secures his people.

And with that assurance in our hearts,

we're going to sing the next song before

our concluding thoughts. That's number

350.

I know whom I have believed.

We're going to sing all verses of this

song. Brother Kyle Copelan will lead us.

Number 350.

I know not by God's wonderous

grace to me he had made known

for

unworthy he Christ in love redeemed

me before his own.

But I know who

I have

and

that he is able

to keep that

which I committed

unto him

against that day.

I know not what

good or ill may

reserve for me.

of we

are golden

days before

his face I see.

But I know

I have believed

and amuained

that he is able

to keep that

which I committed

unto him

against that day.

I know not when my Lord may come and I

norm

Nor

meet

him in the air.

But I know

I have believed

and amu

that he is able

to keep that

which I committed

unto him

again.

So Solomon has tested work, life itself,

and wisdom,

and all fall short without God.

Ecclesiastes chapter 1

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

is not written to leave us empty.

It's written to leave to lead us to

fullness.

It tears down false hope

so that we will seek true hope

because it shows us as the lesson was

entitled that life under the sun is

incomplete

because it was never meant to stand

alone.

We are created for something higher

from under the sun

to above the sun.

I think a well

way to illustrate this good way to

illustrate this is you ever had a

compass

and you put it near a strong magnetic

field. What happens? That thing will

spin and it will spin and it will spin.

And with that it loses direction because

it it cannot settle.

But when removed from that interference

of that magnetic field, what does it do?

It aligns properly.

And what I submit to you tonight is

that's actually the human heart.

Because when we are surrounded, when

surrounded by the pull of the world, you

know what it does? It spins.

That's all it does. It spins.

It never settles and it never satisfies.

Isn't that what Solomon was saying in

Ecclesiastes chapter 1?

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

But when aligned with God, you know

what? It finds direction and peace.

Friends, you will never find fullness in

a life that leave that leaves God out.

Because God is the designer. He is the

creator. He's the one who brings

fullness to our hearts.

Jesus Christ came to give what Solomon

could not find under the sun.

You know what that is?

Forgiveness of sins,

purpose for living,

peace in the soul, and hope beyond the

grave.

Solomon could not find that under the

sun.

But Jesus Christ came to give it. The

fullness of the scriptures has shown it

to us. If you believe, repent, confess,

and be baptized for the remission of

your sins, the Lord will give you what

this world never can.

Peace that surpasses all understanding

is able to guard your hearts and minds

through Christ. as we come out of that

watery grave of baptism to rise and walk

in newness of life and relationship with

God through Jesus Christ our Savior.

If you haven't done that, I would plead

with you to do as we're about to sing in

this song of invitation.

Say, I am resolved no longer to linger.

no longer to linger charmed by the

world's delight.

We need to face after those things that

are noble, things that are higher, and

that's above the sun.

If you're a Christian who has drifted

back into chasing empty things, vanity

of vanities, says the preacher, all is

vanity and vexation of the spirit.

Then you can come back tonight and you

can say the same words. I am resolved

because Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou

hast the words of eternal life. John 6

John 6:68

verse 68. If you're sub invitation,

call, won't you be resolved? Won't you

come as we stand and sing the song

that's been selected?

I am reserve

the Lord my

praise

praise unto to him

and Jesus

highest.

I will come to thee.

I am resolved to go to the Savior,

leaving my sin and stri

He is the true one. He is the just one.

We have the words

to him.

So glad

and Jesus

great is highest.

I will come to thee.

I am resolved to follow the Savior,

faithful and truly

do what he will.

He is the living

way.

to him.

So glad

and Jesus

Jesus

greatest

will come to me.

Please be seated.