Solomon, after he became king, began to write books. First he wrote the Song of Solomon, likely at the beginning of his rule. Around middle age he wrote the Proverbs of Solomon. Toward the end of his life he began keeping a journal that we know today as the book of the Searcher, which is what "Qoheleth" or "Ecclesiastes" means.
When he arrived at old age, Solomon began a search for meaning, purpose, and happiness. By now he lacked all of these things. As someone has said, "That old ship of wisdom had lost its rudder." His wives had turned his heart away from the Lord. The old man had become skeptical of all that is good.
Today I began to read through Ecclesiastes again.
I love this book because it's raw and it's real. The Searcher wrote about how he was observing life. For him, life had become meaningless, futile, and vain. He's bored. He's cynical. He's trying to find himself as well as trying to figure out God.
My friend, when you get to be my age, make absolutely certain that you have trusted in Christ. With him, life makes sense. Without him -- well, don't go there. The last invitation in the Bible says, "Let the one who is thirsty come" (Rev. 22:17). Blessed are the aged if they hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6). Like Solomon, we must be conscious of our need. Then we must come to the Source, the only one who can satisfy our thirst. There are cisterns aplenty in this old world of ours, and how many poor souls stop there. We must not stop there. We must come to Christ. We must drink of him, receive him by faith, and then believe we have received (Mark 11:24). Then we, though aged, will overflow to the glory of God and the good of others.