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.
The book of Ecclesiastes describes three problems that every single human being faces in this life:
- The uncertainty of time and chance.
Ec 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
These verses demonstrate that man is not sovereign. To a large extent, we have a very limited control of our circumstances. Life is somewhat of a mystery that is not always easy to understand. Life is seldom 2+2=4.
2. The endemic and incurable nature of wickedness.
Ec 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ec 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
These verses reveal the doctrine of the depravity of man, and that as a result of the fall in the garden, man is not inherently good.
3. That death has the final word in any human enterprise.
Ec 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
This verse and many others in Ecclesiastes prove that mankind is not immortal. Man’s days are spent in labor in order to be able to eat and, in the end, his body returns to the dust from whence it was originally taken (Gen 3:19; cf.Eccl 12:7). But physical death is not the end of the story. After death, we all step into eternity. Heaven or Hell.
So, in light of these 3 problems or mysteries in life that each and every one of us has to deal with, what is the divine purpose and conclusion that Ecclesiastes has for us? The book’s epilogue should be allowed to speak for itself.
Ec 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Rev 4.11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
In other words, the true meaning and purpose in life is to know God, fear God, love God, obey God and serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, for we were created for His pleasure. This knowing God and living for His pleasure is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to The Father but through Him. Have you come to The Father through Jesus, dear reader?
