Two-Minute Manna

The author of the Book of Job was a dramatist, a quintessential playwright. The authors of Psalms were poets par excellence. The author of Genesis and Exodus, a wonderful novelist. The author of Jonah was a storyteller. But here, I see Solomon not so much a storyteller or dramatist but rather a photographer. He takes pictures of life and lets us look at them in order to see they’re all bogus. Then, on the last page of his photo album, he says, “This is the key: Fear God and keep His commandments” (see Ecclesiastes 12:13).

But you know what? I close this photo album and still feel discouraged because the problem is, I’ve broken the commandments, and therefore, fear judgment.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48). But I’m not. So, although Solomon’s conclusion is correct, I haven’t followed it. I haven’t obeyed God perfectly.

But our Greater-than-Solomon - Jesus Christ - appears and says, “Come unto Me and I will give you rest, for except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, unless it’s better than the most religious individuals, you will not inherit eternal life” (see Matthew 5:20; 11:28).

So it is then I say, “Lord, I failed. But You didn’t. You took my sin upon Yourself and died in my place. Oh, what grace. And now, Lord, by Your grace, I can walk in Your ways and keep Your commandments. By Your grace, Lord, I not only fear You, but I love You.”

And life has meaning - not under the sun, but in the Son.