Fear God & Obey His Commands, For This Is Everyone's Duty
Walk By Faith
ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
”Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/ecc.12.13-14.NKJ
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 serves as the final conclusion to the book, stating that after exploring the "vanity" of life, the ultimate purpose is to fear God (show reverence/awe) and keep His commandments. It highlights that all actions, including hidden ones, will be judged by God, ensuring that true justice and meaning exist beyond earthly life.
Solomon, in his conclusion, presents his antidotes for the two main ailments presented in this book-purpose and direction.
The whole duty, often translated as "man's all," implies that fearing God and obeying Him is the complete obligation, purpose, and purpose of humanity. It is not a burden but a way to find true fulfillment in life (verse 13).
Those who are lacking purpose and direction in life should fear God and obey His instructions regardless of how bizarre they may seem.
Life can seem very unfair at times, but we should remember that God will review every person's life to determine how he or she has responded to Him, and He will bring every deed into judgement, for their will always be consequences for our actions, both good and evil.
The book of Ecclesiastes cannot be interpreted correctly without reading these final verses.
Whatever mysteries and apparent contradictions of life are, we believers must work toward the single purpose of knowing God and building a relationship with Him.
Solomon shows us in Ecclesiastes, that we should enjoy life, but we are not exempt from obeying God's commands. We should search for purpose and meaning in life, but they cannot be found in human endeavours. We should acknowledge the evil, foolishness, and injustice in life, yet maintain a positive attitude with strong faith in God.
All people will have to stand before God and be judged for what they have done or have not done in this life, and we must understand that we will not be able to use the inequities of life as an excuse for failing to live according to God’s plans and purposes.
Therefore, we must take responsibility for our own actions.
My beloved, because God sees everything, including "secret things," every action (good or evil), all will be brought to light and judged, ensuring ultimate accountability (verse 14).
Furthermore, we need to recognise that human effort apart from God is futile, and that we need to put God first in every aspect of our lives, and receive everything good and every command as a gift from God regardless, and realise that God will judge every person's life whether good or evil.
My beloved, ”“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
Fear of God is not a terrified, paralyzing fear, but a reverent awe and deep respect for God's supremacy and holiness.
Obedience is the direct result of fearing God, proving one's faith and love for him. It is seen as a way of living according to God’s wisdom rather than human, futile, efforts.
Obedience is not always easy, for as the Lord spoke through His prophet Isaiah, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
Obedience can take serious faith when Gods assignment doesn’t make sense to us, or it appears dangerous or even wrong.
But we know that God is always right, and by faith alone, we must remain obedient.
We cannot be saved by the works of our flesh, for that places us under the Law of which we have already broken.
Salvation comes by faith alone, by which we are no longer under the Law, and all things are pure by faith (TITUS 1:15), “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
Those Spirit led “good works” may even appear sinful to people, but they are perfect and correct because God is always right and we are not under the Law.
My beloved, by faith alone, God’s favour is appointed to believers who walk by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:5-6 NKJV
My beloved, we all have a choice, it’s Jesus way or my way. We either walk in the Spirit or not.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV
Jesus way will lead us to our Father in heaven and eternal life (JOHN 14:6), but every other way shall lead us to eternal torment.
As we ponder over the things of this world, we can see our eternal future is in sight; it’s alll but over.
The evil of this world is plain to see, and we all have a choice to make. That choice will determine our entire eternal future; it’s the kingdom of light, or the kingdom of darkness. That is to believe or not to believe; that is to walk in the Spirit, or to walk by the flesh (GALATIANS 5:16-26).
My beloved, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.“
Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
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God bless you all.
