| Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. For further study - Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 As you read through the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes, you are reading the words of a "wise man", who, by inspiration, pens the "wisdom", which is "truth" from God. King Solomon, who wrote Ecclesiastes, is also known as the "Preacher", verse 9, and in this last chapter states that the end of all matters is "vanity", verse 8. Solomon says everything is "vanity". That sounds a bit perplexing and very pessimistic, but in reality, the Preacher is saying -- if you read the entire book of Ecclesiastes, you will see that what is meant is all of life's ambitions, attractions, attitude and attacks are what is "all vanity". In the last two verses of his book, King Solomon summarizes what life should be all about. Verse 13 is the conclusion of the whole matter of life and the exhortation is to "fear God" and "do as He says we should do". Then in verse 14 the Preacher reminds us all that "God will bring our every work into judgment", even the secret things we do. All our works, good or evil, will be brought into judgment. Every person's works, whether that person be saved or lost, will be brought into judgment. For the saved person those works will be judged at the "Judgment Seat of Christ", II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10. The procedure at the Judgment Seat is for Jesus to judge our works, I Corinthians 3:13-15. We receive "rewards", "crowns" that then we will cast at His feet in thanksgiving, Revelation 4:10, for the things that our Lord has done for us. These "good" works are works we've done in His power and for His glory. We suffer loss for those works we do in our own power and for our own glory. Jesus will be the judge of all of our works, whether they are "good" or "worthless". Let me remind you, we're not saved by works, but "by grace through faith", Ephesians 2:8-9. However, we're created unto good works, Ephesians 2:10. It is the "works" that we have done for the Lord that He will judge us for at the Judgment Seat. The "lost" person will also be judged, at the "Great White Throne", for his works, Revelation 20:1-15. This Judgment is for a lost person, as it relates to the degrees of "punishment", which the lost person will suffer in eternity future. This will be a terrible time for the lost person. King Solomon wrote an entire book to tell us what he sums up in two verses, "all is vanity, fear God and do what He tells us to do". This truth will be very real to each of us at the judgment we face in the "last days". PRAYER THOT: Help me to do works for Your glory Lord, and in Your power, in preparation for the coming Judgment.
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