It All Comes Down To This!

Last year, I began a series of messages entitled “Bottom Line Principles.” These are verses or small sections of Scripture that seem to “cut to the chase” as to what is really important for Christian living. The following verse stands as one of the truly significant statements of the Bible!  May we make it our pursuit in 2010.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (King Solomon – Ecclesiastes 12:13).

To fear means: Trust in, rely upon / place your faith in / show respect / honor His name.

To keep His commandments means: Obey God’s Word / apply His precepts and principles / choose to do God’s will rather than your own.

We tend to get nervous when it comes to the subject of keeping commandments. It is so important to understand what the apostle Paul meant by: “You are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). As those saved by God’s grace, we are not under legalistic requirements whereby we must keep rules in order to gain heaven. Grace is God’s unmerited favor on us because of Christ’s work on the cross. But we are still under an obligation as God’s children to honor the Lord by doing what He says! “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (I Peter 1:14-15).

The motive of our obedience to God should be profound gratitude for His grace and mercy in saving us from our sin, making us His child, and giving us eternal life. (This is why we endeavor to keep God’s commandments, or in other words – Obey Him!)

As the old hymn goes: Trust and obey for there’s no other way; to be happy in Jesus is to trust and obey. (Interesting how many preachers seem to have gotten away from preaching what wise King Solomon says should apply to every person!)

Joy in 2010 is likely to come to you through living out Ecclesiastes 12:13.

In the New Testament, Jesus said: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love… These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:10-11). (Joy comes out of serving God with a grateful heart!)

To build a stable life in 2010, we must decide to actually do what God tells us to do! Jesus points this out:  “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

We can live a life of obedience without being legalistic. In fact, exercising a self-disciplined, Christ honoring life, produces freedom to live as God intended!  May this be the year you choose more than ever to reverence God and obey Him – “Because (as Solomon goes on to say) God will bring every act to judgment, every thing which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

As God’s children, we are accountable to live a life pleasing to Him, even while enjoying His mercy and grace. We are saved by grace that we might lovingly serve our King!

Pastor John Wallace Miller