A surface-view of life can be very sobering and frustrating. Ecclesiastes is a book that can wake us up from mere existence - surviving, accumulating, accomplishing, etc. The world is full of endless cycles. Everything, including the actions of people, keeps repeating itself. A generation of people lives and tries to fulfill their desires. Then they pass away and another generation takes their place (Eccl 1:1-4). Life seems like endless labor (Eccl 1:8). When it comes to life and death, nothing is really ever new (Eccl 1:9-10). We don't seem to learn much from life (Eccl 1:11). Our focus is on the passing of generations. Here, we are talking about the life span of people born at a certain time. In verses 1-4, Solomon calls it vanity. Is life really vain? If you read this book carefully, you'll find that it is only vain if you try to forget God (Eccl 12:1, 13-14).

What do we do with the endless passing of generations?

1. We must consider our duty to our own generation - to share the truth Gospel. Acts 13:36 (David's example cp. Psalm 71:17-18)
2. We must consider the future generations and share the truth of the Gospel. Psalm 78:1-8 (note vs. 8, we must try and learn from previous generations). See also Psalm 45:17; 79:13; 89:1; 145:4.

Now let's look at the word "generations" differently. This term can also describe types of people. Not their nationality or ethnicity, but their spiritual character. The real value of life depends on which generation you choose to belong.

In this life, at any given time, we live with these two generations. With which generation will you live in eternity? See Psalm 1; Psalm 37 cp. Acts 2:40. Christ has a generation of His own. Isaiah 53:8 asks a serious question: Who will declare His generation? Isaiah 53:10-11 shows His triumph over sin and death. Psalm 22:30-31 shows His plan to have believers spread the Word in every generation. See Acts 8:30-35 cp. Colossians 1:25-29.