Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
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Beyond the Sun
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgement including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
The book of Ecclesiastes can be very confusing and hard to understand, for the author, many times throughout the book, reflects on the meaninglessness of life under the sun. He ponders the unfairness of how the righteous die early and the wicked live long and prosperous lives, seemingly consequence-free. The key phrase here is "under the sun", which represents this life on earth, the here and now, apart from eternity. If you throw away the idea that there is a life after death, you might as well eat, drink, and enjoy the days you have left, for the righteous and the wicked all meet the same end in death under the sun. But the conclusion of this book is not under the sun, but beyond the sun. "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."
It is very hard to see all the injustice in the world, and very easy to throw up your hands and shout, "It's all meaningless!" Yet, as believers in Christ, we have a hope in a God who lives beyond the sun, and we have a duty to fear, honor, revere, and respect God with our lives and obey His commandments. God will bring everything to justice, which is an encouragement to those who have faith in Jesus, but a strong warning to those who choose to live in opposition to this reality. The question each one must ask is, "How will I choose to live with the time given to me, under the sun?"
"Lord Jesus, thank You that in You, life is not meaningless. Help me to fear You and keep Your commandments all the days I have left on this earth. Thank You for eternal life that is beyond the sun through faith and belief in You, the one and only Messiah. Amen."
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