This is Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee, Senior Pastor of Manmin Central Church, Seoul Korea. I wish for your life to be filled with God’s love and blessing. I want to share God’s grace with you through this message titled “Duty of Man.”
Many people are seeking fame, honor, power and possessions without knowing or just forgetting the true meaning and purpose of life. They work hard and store much knowledge to live lives in abundance and to accomplish their goals.
When they have accomplished their goals, they may seem to succeed for a while, but what is the ultimate result of all the toil of their efforts and sweat that they have shed under the sun? Everything they did will return to nothing when their body returns to a handful of dust, and judgment and everlasting punishment awaits them.
King Solomon of Israel had and enjoyed greater riches, honor, fame and power than anyone else. But he confessed at his last days, “Vanity of vanities, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.”
And the king urges us, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.”
Everything one has done under the sun will perish when he dies, so everything is in vain. However if you remember God your Creator, and gain eternal life, then you will live in glory and honor in the kingdom of heaven forever. This is not vanity at all. That’s why a wise person does his best to live in happiness in heaven forever and ever.
What are we to do to gain eternal life? Above all else, we are to perform the duty of man that God the Creator has commanded us.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” To gain eternal life requires that you realize that all the works you have done for your lustful desires are in vain and cast them off, and that you love God and keep and observe His commandments.
For this, you have to accept as your Lord and Savior, Jesus, who was crucified and resurrected to redeem all men from their sins. Then you have to discover and get rid of your sins and evils one by one through the Word of God in order to overcome all kinds of trials and hardships with unshaken faith and live to the glory of God whether you eat or drink, and in everything you do.
May each of you realize that fearing God and obeying His commandments is the way of performing the duty of man, gaining eternal life, and the way of enjoying the privileges and blessings given to you that are entitled to a child of God. May you live a truly blessed life, in the name of our Lord I pray!
