Today’s Word sounds out the broken state of man and how it has been that way back when Solomon wrote this in around 700 BC and actually Biblically, we can trace this all the way back to  Adam and Eve getting booted out of the Garden of Eden:

Ecc 7:28  Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!

Ecc 7:29  But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Solomon is clearly exasperated by this, and we can take it back to Adam and Eve, God created man in His own image, and their disobedience got them thrown out of the garden of Eden when they ate the forbidden fruit, and sin subsequently entered the world.  

Ever since then, humanity has debased themselves generation after generation from the endless wars and other oppressions, to where we find ourselves here in 2021.  

So what do we do?  We are born with this original sin and have been stuck with it since back in Genesis.  The only way is through Christ, who came and died on our behalf and His work is what cleans us from our sin, and removes us from that downward path that Solomon was alluding to.  That’s why they refer to the Gospel as Good News, Christ saves sinners from that downward path and puts us on the straight and narrow as God continues to conform us into the image of His Son, where we trust in Him and repent by abandoning our lusts and desires and start living to please Him!  

We often here about rebellions.  The 60s were full of rebellions, rebelling against authority, rebelling against institutions like marriage and monogamy, but that rebellion is easy.  Anyone can sleep around or do drugs or break the law.  But a steadfast rebel is one who rebels against their owns lusts and desires and strives to please God.  As Paul the Apostle tells us, put off the old self that was debased by lusts and hatred, and put on the new self as he explains as we close things out today:

Eph 4:21  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,

Eph 4:22  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

Eph 4:23  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Eph 4:24  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.