DAY 21: THE END OF THE MATTER
by Pastor Heiden Ratner
Sep. 21st, 2025
“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.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
DEVOTION
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
That classic line captures what it means to fear the LORD. Our God is not “safe,” but He is good.
When Solomon wraps up Ecclesiastes—after twelve chapters of questions, wisdom, and hard-earned lessons—he closes with two commands: Fear God. Keep His commandments. He calls this “the end of the matter… the whole duty of man.”
Notice how it ties everything together. Earlier, Proverbs 1:7 declared, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” And here, Solomon closes with the same truth. The fear of the LORD is both the starting line and the finish line. It’s what gets us going, keeps us on track, and carries us through to the end.
This fear isn’t about being scared and running away. God doesn’t push us off—He draws us close. To fear Him is to take Him seriously: to recognize His holiness, His glory, His goodness, and His power. And when we see Him rightly, we want to be on His side. That kind of reverence doesn’t paralyze—it propels.
Then comes obedience. Solomon says, Keep His commandments. Jesus echoed this centuries later: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience isn’t about checking boxes; it’s the overflow of love. Jesus even linked friendship with obedience: “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).
So, as you close this 21-day journey, don’t let it stay on the page. Put it into practice. Take God seriously. Do what He says. Fear Him. Follow Him. And when you miss the mark, repent, renew your mind, and keep walking in Jesus—finishing strong in the grace found only in Him.
PRAYER
Father, thank You for all You’ve taught me about the fear of the LORD. Don’t let this be the end of a study, but the beginning of a lifelong pursuit. Give me courage to obey and joy in following You. Thank You for Jesus, who obeyed perfectly when I could not. My confidence is in Him. By faith, I choose to fear You and walk with You, today and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.
CHALLENGE
Carve out unrushed time today to reflect on your actions, thoughts, and relationship with Christ. Ask yourself:
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Am I living in a way that honors God in both the public and private areas of my life?
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Is there anything I’ve been avoiding that God is calling me to do?
Then, pick one concrete action to take today that aligns with God’s commands—whether it’s showing forgiveness, helping someone in need, repenting of a specific sin pattern, or speaking truth in love.
