| “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13 |
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| The ANSWER is FEAR GOD and Keep His Commandments. The Book of Ecclesiastes starts with doom and gloom words. From Ecclesiastes 1:2 we read, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Wow! What a depressing start to a Book of the Bible. In other words, life is meaningless! To prove how meaningless life is Solomon will talk about one worldly pursuit after another pursuit that he tried and how it ultimately leaves him unsatisfied. From wine and women to work and wealth Solomon never found satisfaction. A subtitle for Ecclesiastes easily could be “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” However, Solomon says he did make the discovery of discoveries in his search for the true meaning of life, and in Ecclesiastes 12:13 he gives his discovery, his conclusion. The conclusion for having a MEANINGFUL life is FEAR GOD and KEEP His Commandments! Search no more for the answer to life’s greatest question is FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. To FEAR God is to place God where He belongs with the acknowledgment that He exists and stand in awe of Him offering adoration to Him and recognizing His authority over you. Life takes on meaning when you REALIZE and RECOGNIZE there is a GOD and you are not Him! This will then lead to KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS. In recognizing His authority you OBEY His commands. One will live according to His standards rather than doing what is right in your own eyes. What has been your conclusion as you search for meaning in life? The wisest of men, Solomon, would tell you that your answer needs to be “fearing God and keeping His commandments.” This and this only is what life is about and what will bring meaning to life. Friends, until God is in the right place in your life, your life is going to stay unfilled, lacking meaning and satisfaction. Pay attention to Proverbs 19:23 as it tells us, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests SATISFIED.” Now connect Matthew 6:33 to Proverbs 19:23 and read, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” It is now your call! What will be your conclusion? The verse to DATE the Word on December 13 (12/13) is Ecclesiastes 12:13. It says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Continue Strong in the FEAR of the Lord! And remember to DATE THE WORD! PS – to learn more about the FEAR of the Lord you will want to read and study the book of Proverbs as the fear of the Lord is mentioned often. One learns what comes to a person as they fear the Lord. |