Chapter 12-The End Is Near

Old age comes. I’ve seen it. I have watched age ravage people-from those I sat with as they died to my grandmother in law. Age comes with its pain and anger and fear. The preacher describes it beautifully. The world fades. Eyes can no longer delight in all the fine details. Ears begin to shut out the sounds around them. Legs wobble. Small things become giant annoyances. The body wears out.
Some people work hard to keep all of that from happening. They buy magic creams to keep skin supple. They buy magic dye to keep hair from turning gray. There are plastic surgeons who make fortunes reversing the signs of time. Medicines try to keep the inevitable from slowing down the fun.
But, life is full of pain and joy. All is vanity.
Depression threatens to settle in on our shoulders like the dusty blanket grandma is huddled under. It threatens but hope is found. “the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God, who gave it” Amen and Hallelujah!
Our spirit will return to the Father. He will hold us in His arms. He will tell us “Well done good and faithful servant.” We will spend eternity in His presence. The bliss the drug addict is trying to touch- that bliss is found in our Lord and we will have it for all eternity. The euphoria and connection the sex addict is trying to find is found in our Lord and we will experience it for all eternity. The light the frightened child runs to in the dark of night is found in our Lord and we will bask in it for all eternity.
The vanity of this life dissolves into nothingness when we come into communion with our Jesus. Because of Jesus we are saved. Because He loves us and died to wash away our sins, we are able to be in the presence of our Holy God and Father. Because He rose again, we can face tomorrow knowing that the end of here is the beginning of heaven.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (v 14)
When the time of judgment is at hand, what will you say? The only answer is Jesus. Without Jesus, you cannot come into the presence of the Father. All of your sins will be shown and you will be found unclean. Jesus has paid the price for your sins and through Him, you can come to the Father.
Everything comes down to this: Life is vanity. It holds no meaning outside of your relationship with God. Will you waste what you have been given or will you “fear God and keep his commandments”?