11 Oct 2026
7. Death and Judgment
How do we handle the aching outrage of living in an unfair world where corrupt systems fail and evil seems to go unpunished? Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3:16–22, this sermon reveals that while human systems cannot guarantee ultimate justice, God will account for every wrongdoing in His perfect timing, freeing us to lay down our bitterness and live by faith.
Sermon Outline:
I. Man cannot provide justice, but God will
II. God delays justice to show us who we really are
III. By faith we rejoice, and not by sight
Sermon quotes:
With an eye of faith we may see, not only the period, but the punishment of the pride and cruelty of oppressors, and it is an unspeakable comfort to the oppressed that their cause will be heard over again. Let them therefore wait with patience, for there is another Judge that stands before the door. And, though the day of affliction may last long, yet there is a time, a set time, for the examination of every purpose, and every work done under the sun. Men have their day now, but God’s day is coming. With God there is a time for the re-hearing of causes, redressing of grievances, and reversing of unjust decrees, though as yet we see it not here.
-Matthew Henry, 17th c.
This, then, is the portion of the righteous: to enjoy the things that are present and not be afflicted by the things that are in the future.
-Martin Luther, 16th c.
We die like beasts because we imagine ourselves to be as gods, and we try to pretend we are gods even though we die like beasts.
-Jeffry J. Meyers
I want to believe there’s a heaven. But I can’t not believe there’s a hell.
-Vince Gilligan
Scripture text: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vapor. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Sermon Transcript
Liturgy Bulletin
“Death and Judgment” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org.
Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com.
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