This is the duty of mankind
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
There are not a little Christians living immersed in nihilistic thoughts. It is no exception among those who are thorough in the thought of heavenly kingdom in future. Their nihilistic grievances they manifest may hear as if plausible words of faith to others. They often express the nihilistic thoughts of themselves by quoting from contents in Ecclesiastes. Indeed, in the Ecclesiastes, there are many expressions the contents of futility, so it would might occur such misunderstanding if do not understand the real meaning Ecclesiastes says. We have to listen to any talking carefully from beginning to end. To do one sided assertion is greatly dangerous, as if you’ve heard just one or two lines of story and figured out all the meanings. This Bible text is the conclusion of all contents in Ecclesiastes, which is very important.
Perceiving the nihilistic life and falling into nihilism are clearly different each other. Nihilism has nothing to do with perceiving of futility. For whatever reason, the attitude neglecting the life by thinking of all reality as useless is nihilism. Nihilists don’t feel meaningful and funny, no matter what they look at. On the other hand, a person who realizes what nihil is makes an effort to solve the problem directly or to overcome it.
The representative catchwords Christians talk commonly are “Jesus! Heaven!” and “Afterlife, Heaven!”. If just look at it outer, those expressions are not wrong. They must be important phrases that represent the core of Christian doctrine. But the reason why it might be a problem depends on what the concept of Heaven. To say conclusion first, it is true that a man enters Heaven by faith in Jesus, but the Heavenly kingdom is an eternal country transcends this life and the afterlife. It is also that those who believe in Jesus and entered Heaven must live with active will, overcoming nihil even in the situation of hard life.
The Ecclesiastes is a Bible written by Solomon at the late ages, who had much enjoyed rich and glory in the period of his own life. Certain man who didn’t live like Solomon but rather was more embarrassing than others, or lived a life that was not so great even though had succeeded, may say the sense of futility as if a person experienced enjoyment of glory, wealth, and pleasure as much as Solomon. But it does not look meaningful to say so. What we need to realize at even the end of life is this text, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
There seems to be no worse harm than to think wrong on anything. But many people live with properly no realizing on something oneself thought wrong. The reason why they don’t know it is don’t read the Bible, God’s words. The Bible is a spiritual mirror that shows God and oneself. Through looking at the glass mirror, we can see what our face looks like, what’s on the skin, and so on. Likewise, the mirror that allows us to see our own spiritual image is the Bible. Regardless of whether you are a pastor, saint, or a layman, reading the Bible has enlightenment, and if you stay away from reading Bible, you will not only become indiscretion, but also fall into vain thoughts.
Genius scholars and scientists from around the world have sent probes to Mars and Venus dozens of times to study the mysteries of the universe. It wasn’t long ago that people imagined there would be a Martian, but now the interest about it is withered when no life has been found there. Those who refuse against to believe in Jesus so smart, but they don’t have intention to awe God. On the contrary, the more for scientists of faith see the mysteries of the universe and nature, the more they can’t help but praise the mysterious abilities of the Creator. There is nothing in all the created that is not vain. If anybody don’t have the faith in Christ, all are not true worth even if to write many books or study a lot. To do efforts without ultimate purpose only make people tired. Technology and learning in any field should be used for Christ, knowing Christ.
Men live as stewards for God’s things in the world, thus the Creator will settle accounts human life some day. We write down income and expenditure in our books in doing our home life. And through that, we settle accounts sometimes and go on developing the living. Then what’s more, is it right the life as God’s steward live in random ways by one’s own will? People should live up according to the duty and role received from God. The basic duty man has to is to awe God and keep His command. It’s true that everything of life is futile, but we must not leave alone own life in vain.
(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on June 12th 2022)