The End of the Story

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

     ‘What is it going to cost me?”  “What is the bottom line?”  I have used these expression when I am getting an estimate for something and they keep going on and on about the details, but what I am interested in is the bottom line or what I am going to have to pay for this new thing or service.  To me, it is like reading a book and you really want to know the conclusion and are tempted to read the last chapter first.  That would destroy the joy of reading the book, certainly, but you would at least know who did it.

     The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes isn’t named except he is called the preacher.  Some think it was Solommon, but it doesn’t say and so we leave it alone.  The writer does come to the final words of the book and gives his conclusion.  The conclusion of the whole matter of the book then is basically two things.  First, we are to fear God.  it is obvious in today’s society that the world doesn’t fear God and many believers don’t fear Him either.  In one example during the time of Jesus upon this earth, we notice a little boat trip across the sea of Galilee.  The sea gets rather rough and the disciples wake up Jesus who simply calms the sea and the wind.    I would ask, “How did He do that?”  The did marvel at the scene that had just taken place and wondered about the fact that even the wind and the sea would obey Him.  When God spoke, the universe was formed.  When God spoke, fire and brimstone fell upon Sodom and Gomorra and destroyed it.  When God spoke at the tower of Babel, languages came about.  When God speaks, the dead rise from the tombs.  When God speaks the final words, you will either hear, “Depart from me I never knew you,” or “Well done my faithful servant.”  There will come that day when every knee shall bow.  Yes, the world ought to fear God and to give Him the proper reverence due to Who He is.  God is not the “man upstairs” as He is God of the universe and deserves to be worshiped.  Secondly, we are exhorted to keep His commandments.  The writer of Ecclesiastes found no pleasure in all of the things he created.  He was wealthy and prospered and built many things, but his summation was, “All is vanity.”  What was he to then do? The simple conclusion was stated in the above passage.  Keeping God’s commandments should be a simple thing to do as they are listed in both Testaments but humanity tries to make their own interpretation of them or they ignore them completely as much of the world does today.  Praise God today for the conclusion of the matter, the bottom line.