THE RECONCILIATION OF ALL THINGS
“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. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV
The late evangelist Charles Templeton was well known in the late 1940s and early 1950s for preaching the Gospel alongside Billy Graham.
However, after enrolling at Princeton Theological Seminary, he gradually embraced agnosticism and eventually identified as an atheist. The life of this former man of God serves as a stark reminder of the decision each Christian must make as we move from mere head knowledge of Jesus Christ to a saving heart knowledge (1 Timothy 2:4).
In our theme scripture, the wisest man who ever lived affirms a universal truth: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.” In biblical narratives, repetition or the placement of a truth at the end of a passage often serves to emphasize and elevate its importance—though sometimes that emphasis is also found at the beginning. At some point, every believer must be fully persuaded in what they have believed and make a conscious choice not to be swayed by every wind of doctrine or novelty.
Salvation is as much a matter of the will as it is the Lord’s unchanging commitment to those who have placed their trust in Him. Selah.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for this truth. I am beyond persuasion when it comes to divine truth and the integrity of Your Word. I lean on Your Holy Spirit to elevate my understanding in things ethical and divine, as I am sanctified and transformed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Proverbs 9:10
• Matthew 5:37
