This sermon continues John Ritenbaugh's extensive 30-part series on Ecclesiastes. The author of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon, the second wisest man who walked the earth, although editing could have done by Ezra to accurately frame Solomon's philosophical autobiography as a device to teach and warn those who came after to avoid his mistakes—namely the entirety of humanity's mistakes of ignoring God's instructions and perspectives. Because of sin prompted by our human carnal nature, God has deliberately subjected creation to futility. Solomon has accurately taught us that without Almighty God, life is meaningless. Only with God (through His Spirit) are we able to live. Only God's called-out ones can contemplate a virtuous, righteous life over the sun while the rest of creation languishes in despair. We are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) as He prepares us to be citizens of heaven, resigning ourselves to the fact that human ingenuity (a mixture of good and evil acquired from our original mom and dad eating the forbidden fruit) cannot fix the world and its myriads of problems. Solomon assures us that there exist hierarchies of good and evil, advocating that we consistently choose the best alternative. Nevertheless, all physical accomplishments and achievements are short-lived and seasons of good are followed with seasons of bad. But Solomon urges us to trust God's timing and overall purposes for our lives, assuring us that God is in control.