Love's Acid Test

¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
 ¹⁴For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
-Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)

Have you ever read Ecclesiastes? Come on, be truthful! If you're like me, then you've probably read a verse here or there from it, but never really read it. I can honestly say that I've read through Ecclesiastes twice. It's an interesting book, because I think we can all really relate to it. Who hasn't asked the question "What does all this really mean?" Solomon writes about that in the 12 chapters of this book, and verses 13 and 14 of chapter 12 sums it all up.

Solomon provides us with 2 duties that we should perform. It's simple: Fear God, and keep his commandments. To fear God means to look at God how you would your earthly father. Most of us would not want to look bad in front of our father, or to offend our father. That is what the thought is to fear God. We should live in such a way as not to offend God or to look bad before Him. Secondly, we are to keep his commands. That is why Bible study is so important. How could you keep His commands if you don't know them? I think these two duties go hand in hand. If you don't want to offend God, then you must keep His commands. If you don't know His commands, you will not fear God.

Jesus said numerous times in John 14 that we show our love (fear of) God by keeping His commandments, and that by keeping His commandments He will dwell with us. (John 14:23).  Are you showing your love for Jesus by keeping His commandments? Verse 24 of John 14 says that "²⁴He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me" This is the acid test for our love for Jesus: Do you keep His commandments?

Back to Ecclesiastes 12:14, "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." God will bring every work in to judgment-everything-even the secret things that no one else knows about. He will judge them according to His commandments. How will you fare? Do you show your love for God? Look at the previous 3 days studies about love. See if you truly love God? Think About It.