In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Solomon’s instruction throughout the book was geared to the final exam, or as Solomon says, “the conclusion of the whole matter”. Solomon’s final exam that has three answers we need to pass to graduate into heaven:
a. Fear God: The word “fear” is in relationship to the word “God” has caused no amount of problems over the years. We get the mental picture of fright and being afraid, when that is not what is meant by the word at all. The word means to reverence which Webster’s dictionary defines as “profound adoring awed respect”. Ray Stedman uses an acronym to explain its meaning:
“F” = Faith, as any “adoring awed respect” has to come from a place where you believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
“E” = Experience of His grace. We won’t adore Him unless we have personally experienced His mercy and grace at the cross.
“A” = Awe at His majesty. This deals with just the wonder of the character and nature of God who reveals Himself through His creation as well as His Word.
“R” = Resolve to follow Him. Without the “R” all you have is “fea”. All the above cause us to desire to allow God to change us.
b. “Keep His commandments”: Simply put there is not true love without loyalty! Folks, the measure of a person’s life is not its duration but rather its dedication! That’s where we will see if a person lives what they believed.
Now what is interesting here is that Solomon sums up what Jesus said in Matthew. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” In the Hebrew the word “duty” is not in the Hebrew literally this reads “For this is the whole of man”. The idea is after the love of God and the love for our fellow man there is nothing else to us! There is a “wholeness” that applying the Word of God will bring to us that nothing us will.
c. Turn in you paper: “For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” The final part of the test is to see how you are living it as this is what will really count! Saints, we are all going to have to turn in our papers in which He will be the sole Judge. Our fellow classmates may think that we are real smart but the Lord will weigh every secret thing.
The aim of God and His Word towards our life is not reformation it is transformation, so now is the time where we are all still students taking in the lessons and applying His Word.