Ecclesiastes 3:12-15

What are we supposed to do with what we understand? They do not understand that God is on a character-building campaign (if I can put it that way). And that character-building campaign requires our cooperation with Him. That is what Solomon and God suggest here, that no one can find out the work that God does from the beginning. Do you know why? It is because they do not fear Him! The fear of God is something that must be given; it is something that must be instilled within a person - and it must be instilled by God.

This is why we should be able to fear; this is where it all begins for you and me. The fear is caused to be in us by virtue of the fact that God has given us the ability to recognize His power (which none can resist), His holiness and justice (which no one can satisfy), and His wisdom (which none can attain to). This is something that we have been given.

It is not in the world! If it was in the world, they would know it, too. But the evidence remains that they do not know what it is that God is working out. We see that men have a form of godliness, but deny the power. God is not really a part of their lives even though they recognize that there is a Creator. They do not understand His wisdom and they do not understand His justice. All of these are evidenced in the doctrines of the churches out there.

We have what we have; and what we have is a fear that has been instilled within us as a result of the calling of God. This may come about as a result of the observation of God's creation. It may come about because of deducing that there is a purpose that is being worked out. But however it comes, there is a fear in the form of awareness, recognition, or apprehension which compels acceptance and submission. But we must choose.

There was a time when we did not have the mind which we now have. This is the work of God instilling within us the recognition of Him that the world does not yet have. And that recognition has compelled you and me to react the way in which we do. It is a gift of God and it is part of His grace.

However, there is in all of us such a powerful drive to stuff this knowledge - hide it, neglect it, bury it, put it in the back of our minds, and deny it. It is part of human nature to do such a thing. We have a tendency to neglect it. We have a tendency to bury it by busying ourselves with activities that are vain. We tend to be lazy about it. And this brings us right back to Hebrews 10:30-31. What I have just described are all forms of contemptuousness toward God, but God is going to judge His people!