The End of the Matter - Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

*EMH CHRISTMAS TREE

Think back to a time in your life when you were on a quest for something you thought was the key to happiness.

For me, it was church planting.

-A29 Assessment

-Getting to Sunday mornings

I was convinced that once I achieved this, I would feel complete, satisfied, fulfilled.

But when I finally got there, when I finally had it in my hands, it fell through my hands like sand.

I felt a surprising sense of emptiness.

It was like reaching the top of a mountain only to find it was just a plateau, with no grand vista I had anticipated.

God in his kindness showed me that success isn’t any my accomplishments, it’s in Christ’s finished works.

What is my role…fear God and keep his commandments.

We have been looking at King Solomon in Ecclesiastes, who had everything – wisdom, wealth, power – yet found it all to be 'vanity of vanities.’

Hevel…breath

Ecclesiastes shows us a hard truth: without God, life is an empty shell.

Good people getting the short end of the stick while the bad guys get the victory lap.

Plans fall apart, and life finds ways to disappoint us.

And then, the inevitable end — death.

No amount of hard work, wealth, or wisdom can outmaneuver it.

Without God, Solomon concludes, everything is vanity. It’s meaningless

As we wrap up our journey through Ecclesiastes, we hit the grand finale in this epilogue.

It’s the Preacher’s mic-drop moment.

After all his searching, his conclusion is startlingly simple yet profound.

It’s our big idea this morning.

Big Idea: Fear God, keep His commandments.

That's it.

These aren't just words; they're a compass for our entire existence.

So, grab your Bibles, and turn to Ecclesiastes 12, verses 9 to 14.

These verses aren’t just an epilogue; they’re the essence of Solomon’s wisdom.

It’s his final declaration, a distilled truth from a life spent in the relentless pursuit of meaning.

Go to verse 9 and let’s see

1. Anchored in God’s Words and Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 12:9–12 (ESV)

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

(Whether this is Solomon editing later in life or another editor all together the power is still here for us)

Solomon has been using wisdom throughout the book of Ecclesiastes to guide us to his final point.

He knows how difficult these passages are.

He compares them to goads – think of them like spiritual cattle prods.

If you read that and you’re wondering what a goad is, it’s a sharp stick used by shepherds to keep their sheep on track.

It’s a nudge, a bit of discomfort to steer them right.

It's not about harming; it's about guiding.

Just like these words of wisdom in Ecclesiastes.

They're there to prod us, to keep us on the path of truth.

They might sting a bit, but they're meant to guide us, to keep us walking in the right paths, just like a shepherd guides his flock.

That’s what this book has done. It is goading us.

God’s wisdom often disrupts our comfortable views, our neatly packaged beliefs.

Wisdom doesn't just support what we already think; it completely changes our views.

This is the Bible at work, not just as a book of comforting words, but as a living, piercing testimony of God's truth.

It confronts us, challenges our deeply held notions, and exposes the misalignments in our lives with God's perfect will.

This confrontation, while it can be unsettling, is ultimately an invitation to realignment and renewal in Christ.

Think about Paul, a striking example of this transformative power.

Before Jesus, he was fiercely opposed to the Christian faith, actively persecuting believers.

Yet, in a moment of sovereign intervention, the Risen Christ confronts him.

Paul recounts this in Acts 26 — a blinding light, a voice from heaven, challenging his resistance to God's truth.

‘Why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

In this moment, we see a vivid picture of God’s sovereignty at work, not only in Paul’s life but in the wider narrative of redemption.

God's Word, like the goads used by shepherds, serves to guide, correct, and redirect us.

It’s a divine tool, not causing harm but leading us towards repentance and life in Christ.

It’s a reminder that our journey with God isn’t about aligning Him with our plans, but aligning ourselves with His sovereign plan.

So, if today, God’s Word is pricking your conscience, revealing areas of your life not surrendered to Him, don’t resist.

This is the Holy Spirit at work.

If your life doesn't match the Gospel’s call, pay attention to God's direction.

A park ranger at Yellowstone National Park was leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout.

The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off.

As the group neared the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who rushed them inside and asked why he hadn’t responded to the messages on his radio.

A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.

Don’t ignore the Word’s goading.

Humility before the Word is not just an act of obedience;

it's an act of worship, acknowledging God's supreme authority and grace.

Don’t just read the Bible and nod in agreement.

Pray that you’re heart and mind would be open so that you are transformed by it.

This transformation is at the heart of the Gospel — a life turned from sin and self to Christ.

It's in bowing to His Word and heeding its instruction that we find true life, a life marked by grace, redeemed by Christ, and aligned with God’s eternal purposes.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

God's word is more than comforting verses and ancient stories; it's like a spiritual cattle prod, meant to guide us back to the right path.

If God’s word isn’t occasionally stepping on your toes, challenging your ideas, or calling out your lifestyle, then you’re missing out on a big part of its power.

When you feel that goading under God's word, don't push back.

That’s God loving you, guiding you, nudging you towards abundant life.

Embrace it with joy, trusting that His way is the best way

Solomon talks about the words of the wise being like goads, but he doesn’t stop there.

He also says they're like nails, firmly fixed – think of them like tent pegs.

Have you ever been camping and not pegged your tent down properly?

A strong wind comes, and whoosh – there goes your shelter.

But a well-placed peg gives your tent stability.

God's word does the same for your life.

It can be the anchor that holds you steady, the North Star guiding you through life's choppy seas.

It’s that constant presence, helping you see things clearly – about God, about yourself, about the world.

And let’s get real for a moment about our own sin.

We all have those moments, right?

Those slip-ups, those thoughts or words we wish we could take back.

When you're wrestling with that, feeling the weight of your mistakes, and those doubts start creeping in, Do you have God’s word firmly fixed in your heart and mind?

It it like that nail, that stake firmly fixed, to help you navigate through those storms.

Have you ever caught yourself wondering, 'Can God really love someone like me?'

Or maybe, 'Am I just playing a part in some spiritual charade?'

These doubts, they can creep in, especially when we mess up.

But here’s where God's word becomes our anchor, our tent peg in shaky ground.

When those doubts swirl, remember what Romans 4:5

Romans 4:5 (ESV)

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

God justifies the ungodly.

So, if you're feeling ungodly, guess what? You're exactly who God is looking to justify.

And Romans 8:1 – it’s a game-changer.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Your mistakes?

Jesus took them on.

What’s your part? Keep trusting Him.

Get up, turn from your sin, and walk with Jesus.

That's how God’s word reorients us, gives us stability.

These wise words aren’t just motivational quotes; they're lifelines.

They spur us into action and anchor our thoughts.

And here's the kicker: they all come from one Shepherd.

The 'One Shepherd' – it’s a capital 'S' deal, a nod to Jesus Christ, the promised Son of David, the eternal King.

Remember Psalm 23? 'The Lord is my shepherd.' That’s who we’re talking about.

At a gathering many years ago, a renowned English actor was asked to recite something for the guests.

He agreed and asked for a request.

An old clergyman asked him to recite the 23rd Psalm. The actor agreed, with one condition: that the clergyman would recite it too, after him.

Surprised but willing, the clergyman agreed.

The actor recited the Psalm with perfect voice and intonation, captivating everyone.

His performance was met with enthusiastic applause.

Then, the clergyman, with his ordinary voice and simple delivery, recited the same Psalm.

His rendition didn't win applause, but it left not a single dry eye in the room, touching everyone deeply.

The actor then spoke up, visibly moved. He explained to the guests that while he knew the Psalm, the clergyman knew the Shepherd

The wisdom in the Bible isn’t just good advice.

It's God's word, divinely inspired, breathed out for our benefit.

It comes from a variety of human pens, but it's all God’s voice.

Are you listening to the Shepherd?

And that gives it complete authority, total reliability.

Ecclesiastes gives us this caution: 'Beware of anything beyond these.'

It's not saying ditch all other books – no way.

But it's a reminder to weigh everything against the truth of God's word.

In a world overflowing with information, with endless books and theories, it's easy to get lost.

In this tangled, broken world, as we wade through both joys and sorrows, remember to keep your eyes fixed on that one true source of eternal life – Jesus Christ.

Hope in Him, trust in Him.

Solomon drives it home in verses 9 through 12 – wisdom's words are good, they’re solid gold.

Then in verses 13 and 14, he drops the ultimate truth bomb: life’s all about God.

It circles back to Him.

The big takeaway, the sum of all things, is stunningly simple yet profound: Fear God and keep His commandments.

2. Fear God and Keep His Commandments.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

This call to fear God, it's not about trembling in terror.

It's about this deep, reverent awe, a humble recognition of who God really is.

It's about bowing in respect to the ultimate Sovereign, acknowledging His unmatched greatness.

If your idea of God doesn't stir a sense of awe, maybe it's time to expand your vision of Him.

Have you noticed in the Bible, whenever God shows up, people hit the deck?

They’re in awe.

Whether it’s on Mount Sinai with thunder and lightning, or on the Mount of Transfiguration surrounded by a blinding cloud – God’s presence demands respect, reverence.

It's a natural reaction to the overwhelming realization of who He is.

So, what does this mean for us?

In The Chronicles of Narnia, an allegory by C.S. Lewis, the author has two girls, Susan and Lucy, getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who represents Christ. Two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, prepare the children for the encounter.

"Ooh," said Susan, "I though he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie." said Mrs. Beaver. "And make no mistake, if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knee's knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."

"Then isn't he safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you!"

It means living in that awe and reverence, aligning our lives with His commands, orienting our actions and decisions around His will.

Lucy knew that Aslan could decimate her with a swipe of his paw…but she also knew he was good.

Living with a fear of the Lord means remembering the might and majesty of our God and that this God is good.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Oswald Chambers

It's about taking His words to heart and living them out, day by day.

That's the essence of fearing God and keeping His commandments – it's a life fully tuned to His frequency, harmonizing with His heart.

Do you keep the commandments? Do you desire to honor him with the whole of your life?

Here's a practical step: dive into the Ten Commandments.

Don't just read them; let them sink into your soul.

Memorize them, meditate on them, and like Jesus did in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, grasp their deeper meaning.

Think about it – how often do you actually consider God's commandments?

Do you even ponder the fact that God has expectations of you?

Knowing and understanding these commandments is like getting a blueprint of what God desires for your life.

Martin Luther, back in the 16th century, had this eye-opening moment when he finally got his hands on the Bible.

He realized the Ten Commandments weren't just rules; they were a daily touchstone.

He wrote to his barber, saying he'd turn each commandment into a prayer, reflecting on God's expectations, his own shortcomings, and his need for grace.

That's not a bad habit to pick up, right? To daily align your life with what God asks of you.

Imagine a person who truly fears God and keeps His commandments.

That's a person who's serious about their faith, joyfully persevering as a follower of Christ.

Remember, to fear God is to worship Him.

And Jesus made it clear in John 14:6 –

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So, fearing God starts with embracing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

And think about this: you can't even get past the first commandment without encountering Jesus.

How can you put no other gods before Him if you're not approaching Him the way He's revealed Himself – in Christ?

To truly honor the first commandment, you have to bow to Jesus as Lord.

Fearing God and obeying His commandments are two sides of the same coin.

One is your mindset, your heart’s posture; the other is how you live out each day.

If you genuinely fear God, you'll naturally keep His commandments.

And if you're not keeping them, it's time to ask yourself if you truly fear Him.

This is exactly what Paul gets at in Romans 3, as he lays out a stark picture of sin and our inherent need for righteousness.

He says, 'None is righteous, no, not one.'

Paul paints a vivid picture in Romans – no one understands, no one seeks God on their own.

It's a world spinning in chaos, void of goodness.

It's like lawlessness unleashed, a stark refusal to follow God's commandments.

And the root cause? A lack of fear, a lack of reverence for the Creator.

It's not just about actions; it's about mindset, about how we see God.

The preacher brings us to this crucial point: fear God, revere Him.

Don't treat Him as an afterthought in your life.

Take His commandments to heart.

Live in obedience.

If that's not where you're at, now's the moment.

It's time to own up to our shortcomings, to turn away from our sin, and to step into humble obedience to our Creator.

This isn't just about doing the right thing; it's about realigning our very existence with God's will.

But Solomon doesn’t stop at the 'what'; he also gives us the 'why.'

It's not just about duty; it's about our whole being.

Literally, it's about the sum and substance of mankind.

Charles Bridges puts it brilliantly:

The fear of God and keeping his commandments is...

“his whole happiness and business – the total sum of all that concerns him – all that God requires of him – all that the Savior enjoins – all that the Holy Spirit teaches and works in him.” _Charles Bridges

We were made to worship and obey.

It’s the entirety of our existence, everything we were made to be, all we were meant to experience.

Our journey with God isn't about climbing a ladder to earn His acceptance.

Think of it more like railroad tracks – a path laid out for us to follow, guided by His grace through Jesus.

The commandments aren’t steps to climb; they’re tracks to follow, leading us to a life lived in devotion to Christ.

‘Fear God, keep His commandments’ – this isn't just good advice; it's why we're here.

You will never truly live, never really understand who God is, until you align with this fundamental truth.

It's what prompted Augustine, one of the early church fathers, to declare in his 'Confessions': 'Oh God, You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until we find rest in You.'

It's a powerful realization: we are designed to find our peace, our purpose, in God.

So, are you at rest with your Creator?

Or are you resisting, kicking against those goads, uncomfortable with the idea that God is in charge of every aspect of your life, calling you to humble submission under His lordship?

This is the essence of our existence, the core of our journey.

The preacher has one final word for us let’s see briefly and finally

3. The Day of Judgement

Ecclesiastes 12:14 (ESV)

For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Judgment Day is on the horizon.

Jesus Himself spoke of this in Matthew 12:36, saying that we'll have to account for every word we've spoken.

Paul echoes this in Romans 2:16, talking about a day when God will judge our secrets through Jesus Christ.

Here is what the enemy whispers while you read through Ecclesiastes, “nothing matters because death is the end.”

But God's word flips the script: everything matters precisely because death is not the end.

There's a coming day of judgment.

Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon explores life 'under the sun,' seeking meaning in wealth, power, pleasure, wisdom.

Yet, each pursuit brings him back to the same haunting question: 'Is this all there is?'

Without God, our actions, our very lives, might seem inconsequential.

But with God in the picture, every action, every word, every hidden thought takes on eternal significance.

It's a sobering thought:

if there is a God, then He will judge the world, including our most casual words and our deepest secrets.

Everything we do echoes into eternity.

That's the profound truth we're facing.

On that day – that incredible, inevitable day of judgment – we'll all see just how much every action, every word, every thought has mattered, and mattered eternally.

On that day, the way you spoke to your family, the respect you showed (or didn't show) to your parents,

how you treated your neighbor,

Every text message you sent, every social media post you made – all of it will be laid bare.

The way you used your time, whether you squandered it or used it wisely, how you handled your finances – every bit of it carries eternal weight.

That day will reveal if you were honest in your dealings at work, truthful in your taxes.

It will show the significance of those long nights parents spend comforting their children.

It will highlight how you honored the Lord’s day, what you truly thought about God.

It will uncover whether you harbored resentment or worked tirelessly towards reconciliation, showcasing the power of the gospel in your life.

Even the effort you put into your schoolwork, your attitude towards your teachers – it all matters.

Ecclesiastes drives this home: Our daily actions,

our moment-to-moment choices, they're not just passing occurrences.

They're etched in the fabric of eternity because the God who created us, who sees every secret, has set a day to judge us all by His righteous standards.

So, this leaves us with a pressing question:

What will your plea be on that day?

In the time of the pioneers, facing an unstoppable prairie fire, they would light a controlled burn around themselves.

This created a safe zone, as the fire couldn’t burn what was already charred.

So, when the raging fire came, they stood safely in the already burned area, unharmed by the flames encircling them.

When the judgment of God comes there is one spot that is safe.

Nearly two thousand years ago the wrath of God was poured on Calvary.

There the Son of God took the wrath that should have fallen on us.

Now, if we take our stand by the cross, we are safe for time and eternity

How will you stand before God?

Will you have to account for every hidden thought, every word, every deed on your own, without an advocate?

Will you face the reality of your sin, stand before God's judgment, with no one to take your place?

This isn't just a hypothetical scenario; it's a reality we all have to prepare for.

But here's the game-changer for those in Christ: We have an Advocate.

Jesus stepped into the picture to rescue us from the brink of eternal judgment.

He came and flawlessly did everything God requires –

He revered God, followed His commandments, lived out the perfect life towards God, and acted righteously every single moment.

Then, in a profound act of love, Jesus, sinless as He was, embraced death under God's judgment.

He did this for people like us.

He didn’t stay in the grave, he rose again and is seated at the right hand of the father…pleading for us.

By turning away from our sin, bowing to Christ as Lord, and pleading for His mercy, we can stand assured.

On that day of judgment, as Ecclesiastes warns, we won't be alone.

Jesus will stand in our place, declaring us His own.

Imagine facing eternity without a Savior, without someone who's met every demand God could place on us.

On that day, Jesus will be there, affirming, ‘This one is mine.’

Do you know Christ in this way?

If not, understand this – He brought you here today to hear this life-transforming message.

Trust in Him. It's not about rituals or magic; it's about embracing the truth, taking God at His word, and acknowledging Jesus as your Lord.

Will you trust Christ today?

He's ready to welcome you.

This is our God, our Lord, our salvation.

As we gather at the Lord's table in a moment, we'll celebrate this astonishing reality:

The God who demands righteousness, the God before whom we live in fear and obedience, is also the God of grace and mercy.

He gave His Son to accomplish what we never could.

Together, we’ll rejoice in all that Jesus is, in everything He has done for us.

How often do I reflect on God's commandments in my daily decisions? Are there areas of my life where I need to align more closely with these commandments?

When was the last time I felt challenged or 'goaded' by something I read in the Bible? How did I respond to that feeling?

How does the idea of a Judgment Day impact my daily actions and decisions? Do I live with an eternal perspective?

Do I truly understand and embrace Jesus as my Advocate and Savior? How does this belief shape my life and choices?