The Evangelist’s Pen

"The Conclusion of the Whole Matter"

Solomon, calling himself "The Preacher," wrote the wonderful book of Ecclesiastes. It is one of those rare books of the Bible that I recommend you read, in its entirety, at one sitting. The whole is so marvelously wound together into a single thread that you lose much of its impact if you break it up. It is chock full of wisdom, but it builds, line by line, to a resounding crescendo at its climax.

Solomon begins by identifying himself, not so much by name, but by a description that could not fit another in all of history. After identifying himself he begins to lament upon the futility of every kind of work imaginable that man might do in this life. All these he, himself, tried and many other things besides. But his sentiment echoes across the reaches of time, in words we all have felt in our bosom at times, "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. (Chapter One, Verse 2" ) In other words, “What’s it all about? What am I really accomplishing? Can I really do anything that matters, or makes a difference in the end?“ He speaks about all the things that men attempt to accomplish in life, trying to find fulfillment and satisfaction, yet it is all in vain, indeed.

Wisdom and understanding flow from his pen in an effusing stream that makes one humble. Some of us may come up with a witty saying or some small bit of wisdom a few times in our entire life that are worth repeating. This man seems to burst forth at all times, almost ceaselessly, with words that hold us spellbound for their clarity and depth of understanding of things that have plagued every generation of mankind.

But the culmination of the entire book and all of his reasoning flashes like a bolt of lightning across the mind and hearts of all who would live for God. For every one of us who really want to make our life count for something! When all of life is over, when every word has been spoken, every line recorded, every deed performed, there really is only one thing after all that can make any of it worthwhile. Only one way to leave behind something of value. A single method to send something on ahead that will last throughout eternity. I will use his own words, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Chapter 12, Verse 13)" Put another way, the only thing that validates any life on this earth is to have lived it for God, by living in obedience to His Holy Word. This, then, will satisfy in the end. This will make it all worthwhile. This only will enable us to say, with the Psalmist David, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)"

The fear of the Lord really is the beginning of all wisdom!!

Amen, and amen!