Fear God By Keeping His Commands

Focus: Ecclesiastes 12:13 – KJV - 13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Solomon spent decades conducting a massive, well-funded experiment to find the meaning of life. He pursued absolute intellectual wisdom, massive architectural projects, vast wealth, endless entertainment, and deep relationships. Yet, after testing everything the world had to offer, his verdict was always the same: Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Earthly success without God is completely empty. At the very end of his life, Solomon strips away all the noise and hands us the final answer to the human puzzle: Fear God, and keep his commandments. To fear God is not a paralyzing terror, but a profound, deep-seated reverence that recognizes God's absolute holiness, majesty, and justice. True fear of the Lord always results in a lifestyle of active obedience. Literally, that is what we were manufactured to do. When we live to honor and obey God, our life finally works the way it was designed to.

Josiah became king of Judah at a tender age. He inherited a nation completely ruined by generations of wicked, idolatrous leaders who had forgotten God. The temple was falling apart, and the Word of God was literally buried and lost under piles of trash in the sanctuary. The nation was chasing after empty, vain idols. When Josiah was twenty-six, the Book of the Law was rediscovered during temple renovations. When it was read aloud to him, Josiah didn't make excuses or try to compromise. He tore his clothes in deep grief, realizing how far his people had drifted from God’s holiness. He experienced a profound, sudden fear of God. Josiah instantly set out to fulfill the whole duty of man. He gathered the entire nation and made a public covenant to walk after the Lord, and walk in His commandment. In the end, Josiah bypassed the vanity of his ancestors and went straight to the ultimate conclusion of life.

The Lord is saying to us today that life is vain if we pursue it without the fear of God and being in obedience to His commandments. Therein lies the life compass. To fulfill purpose is to do God’s will by obeying His commandments. Every other thing is vain.

Prayer:

Thank you, father for your clear instructions over my life. I appreciate you for your tender mercies and loving kindness in the places where I erred. Please keep me in the purpose for my life through and through as I live in fear of you and obey your commandments. Do let me fulfill my duty as a man and inherit your blessings for it to the very end, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Please share. God bless you.