Someone said that life is what happens while we are waiting around for something else. If you ever read the comics you will be acquainted with B.C. Every so often he climbs up a mountain to ask some great wise man a perplexing question about the meaning life. What he usually finds is that the wise man doesn't have the answers either.
What does it all mean? So many have started down that path, but few have truly found the answer. What does it all mean? Sometimes that is our response when we are overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. I wish I could tell you that I have all the answers, but I don't. There will always be situations and circumstances that are beyond my understanding. However, I can tell you this. Our lives will have meaning and worth only if we serve the Lord. Solomon was perhaps the wisest man, apart from Jesus, who ever lived on this earth. He devoted much of his life to answering the question of meaning and purpose in life. His conclusion is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
(ECCL 12:13-14) "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."
I. What Does It Mean To Fear God. V13-14
A. Godly fear realizes that the earth and all in it including you and I are God's creation. We belong to God.
1. Food, air, life itself comes from God and he sustains us.
a. God made us, we are His creation.
(JOHN 1:3) "ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANY THING MADE THAT WAS MADE."
(COL 1:17) "AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST."
b. Paul declares that we are brought with a price.
(1 COR 6:19-20) "WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? {20} FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S."
c. That price was paid by the Lord Jesus Christ, by shedding His blood, suffering for our sin and dying on the old cruel cross.
d. The man who blasphemes God does it in the strength that God gave him.
e. Those who openly reject Him and His salvation, God's mercy sustains them.
2. If we were created by God, and we are His. He must have a reason for putting us here; some purpose more that just living till we die.
3. In Psalms 139:13-16. David tells us that God knew us even before we were born.
4. What then is our purpose? Why are we here?
B. The Fear of God is to Recognize Sin and Its Destructive Influence in Our Lives.
1. When Isaiah saw God, he saw himself as he truly was. He cried unto God.
(ISA 6:5) "THEN SAID I, WOE IS ME! FOR I AM UNDONE; BECAUSE I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I DWELL IN THE MIDST OF A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS: FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS."
2. Today we have such a light view of sin.
a. The thief, murder have no remorse.
b. The criminal is not responsible for what he does.
c. Our courts often let the murder and criminal go free.
d. There is little compassion for the victims of crime.
3. We fail to see the reality that sin is a cancer that destroys lives and damns the souls of men.
C. Sin separates us from the love of God.
1. God is holy and separated from sin, all sin.
2. It keeps a person from living an abundant life and robs us of peace and joy.
3. Getting right with God is the beginning of assuming a right position before an awesome and holy God.
a. It begins with believing God's truth.
He tells us that "All, have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)
He warns us that "The wages of sin is death," but He further proclaims that ... "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23)
He shows us His way, and tells us...
(ROM 10:9-10) "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. {10} FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION."
b. Today the matter can be settled.
c. By simple faith a man can believe God, put his faith in Jesus Christ's atonement for his sin and become instantly a child of God.
d. Once saved the child of God wants to live for God and God tells us how.
II. God Instructs Us to Keep His Commandments. v13
A. The 10 Commandments were given to set the standard for man's relationship with God and with others.
1. We cannot be obedient to God unless we are maintaining a right relationship with Him...
2. And with those around us.
B. Jesus Christ told us that the law was summed up in one basic command: Love.
(MAT 22:37-40) "JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND. {38} THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT. {39} AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. {40} ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS."
1. As we separate ourselves from sin we learn to love more.
(1 JOHN 1:7) "BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN."
2. We study the Bible and learn more of how to live our lives to the fullest.
3. As we pray and commune with God, God assures us of His love and care for us and we draw nearer to Him.
B. The greatest expression of love is in our giving of ourselves.
1. As we get closer to God, we will get closer those around us and we learn to truly love.
2. Godly love serves. It seeks the best and the well being of others before itself
a. Christ served men, by dying for the sins of the world on the Cross.
b. The only way for us to serve God is to serve others.
c. For the believer that means living a life as a testimony of God's grace before all around us.
d. It means being good stewards of our time and money.
e. It means being burdened for the lost beginning in our homes and church and extending around the world.
C. We cannot serve God unless we are involved in serving others.
Solomon said here is the conlusion of the whole matter: Fear God and Keep His Commandments. What about us this morning? What are we doing with the life that God has given us? Are we wasting it, or are we living it in the Will of God, serving Him and preparing for an eternity in heaven?
This way to set things right is so simple. God has prepared the way and provided the means of being reconciled to Him. He has made the way for you live as God intended you to live and to be what God would have you to be.
For the lost, the one who has not yet accept God into their life, the simple answer is to recognize that you are the sinner God says you are. And in simple faith in God's plan for you, repent of your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Whatever your need this morning, will you come and get serious with God?