The Way to True HappinessSample

Finally…

In Ecclesiastes we are also reminded that longing and emptiness pervades all of societal life. It limits our happiness.

Can you handle life without understanding why you were born or where you are heading? What hope do you really have to achieve anything worthwhile or understand the meaning of your life? The answers that we read in Ecclesiastes are the result of much thought and contain great truths, and all inspired by God. “Holy men of God spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21 ESV). The author of Ecclesiastes is convinced that his final product is the Word of God. He has dealt with the questions of life in-depth and extensively. In the end he has only one answer to all the questions we can ask. He points to the Shepherd.

God has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ as the Shepherd, in whom all prophecy has been fulfilled and still is being fulfilled. He bore the judgement, and will judge the world. To this end He has been appointed by God (Acts 17:31 and Ecclesiastes 12:14). Jesus Christ is both Shepherd and Lamb. As the Shepherd He gives His life; as the Lamb, He carries away the guilt of sin on the cross. Through Him we are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) and the judgment on our lives has been accomplished. The final warning is that we should fear God and keep His commandments. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) and it is also the end, the conclusion. This is an ongoing process and we need to avoid back-sliding. Paul teaches the same lesson when he calls us “to bring our sanctification to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV). That's how you become a blessed person!