The Whole Duty of Man
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Ecclesiastes 12
1. Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2. before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain; 3. in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows are dimmed, 4. and the doors on the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; 5. they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets; 6. before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7. and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. 9. Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging proverbs with great care. 10. The Preacher sought to find pleasing words, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11. The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd. 12. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
The warning here is to begin today to repent of any sins hanging over our heads. Confess and begin anew to live as we ought to. When our relationship with God is faulty, nothing in our lives seems to work out as it should. We have so many problems and annoyances and we find obstacles everywhere we turn. Only by turning to God – for direction and guidance will our lives be in line with His will for us. Only through study of and reflection upon His word will we understand His will. Only through prayer and support and help from our Christian family will we have the courage to do what is good and right and in keeping with God’s will.
What I gleaned from this scripture this morning is that life is short! Don’t wait to change your ways! Don’t wait to change your daily routine and habits! One day – maybe today – maybe in a thousand years – life on earth as we know it will be over. What will have to show for our lives? What will have to say for ourselves? That’s what this writer is prompting us think about. Examine your life and ask yourself those important questions. Because one day God will want an answer!
The only truth, the only wisdom, the only guide we should seek after and then follow is what is written within the pages of the bible. Everything else—every book, every song, every action is either created out of divine inspiration through the Holy Spirit or it is counter to God’s word. It’s that simple. But that simple, isn’t the same as that easy, is it!? I can know what is good and right and true, and still not act on it – for whatever reason – fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of not measuring up, fear of ridicule and scorn. But I would much prefer to be rejected and scorned here on earth, than I would before God at the gates of heaven!
So each day we must go to God. We must ask Him to impart His wisdom, to afford us His strength and the courage of his Son, who once and for all time showed up what perfection looks like—and what is required to achieve it. We are certainly not expected to die on a cross! But are expected to be willing to if it is necessary to choose between fleeting life on earth and eternal life in heaven.
I hope you spend this day investing in your eternal future, living in fear of God and keeping his commandments.
Mary
