‘It is all futile’ Solomon has said over and over. Everything we do has been done. All that we work for may be lost when we die. And death is the end of us all. So what’s the point?
In grand conclusion, Solomon starts by saying “remember your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecc 12:1). In some cultures faith is something only to be pursued in old age. But Solomon says even in your youth pursue him. Because one day you will become old.
The next section is all about when age sets in. It’s a season where you don’t see as well or hear as well and the pleasures of this earth are less enticing. And then the end is death.
So while study is good, and so are proverbs and wise sayings that provoke us how to live, Solomon says this:
“When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil” (v. 12-14).
Fear God. Keep his commandments. Because we serve God.
Had he stopped there, it would have felt great. But then he adds the part about God’s judgment.
So where is Jesus in all this? We are judged and it almost seems like judgment to life and death.
Here’s the answer. For those in Christ, the judgment isn’t unto salvation or not unto salvation, but on rewards that remain (1 Cor 3:12-15):
12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
We also have in Revelation about the lake of fire and the judgment of deeds (Rev 20:11-15):
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Two times judgment is based on “what they had done” (v. 11, v 13). But those for whose names were not written in the book of life.
Look at v. 15. “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
