Old Testament - Ecclesiastes 11 &12, September 2, 2022

 9/2/2022 – Ecclesiastes 11-12 

The Preacher finishes his writings with these last two chapters, and in them he teaches us that we should prepare now for the Final Judgment. 

But the things he prompts us to do are really very simple: the synopsis of chapter 11 is “Do good and give to them that need—God will bring all men to judgment”. V1: Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” I think he’s telling us to give freely, for that which we give will always eventually return to us. And there is v 4: “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regaradeth the clouds shall not reap.”  I simplify this with just three words: “Just do it!”  And v 6: “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”

He finishes chapter 12 reminding us that at death our spirit shall return to God who gave it, and that the words of the wise are as goals for us; and that our main duty on this earth is to fear [honor]  God and keep his commandments.”

Our death is simply our graduation from this earthly schooling we were so happy to be able to come to.  At our ‘graduation’ from our earthly school, our spirit will not return immediately to the presence of God, but instead we shall go to the spirit world. (D&C 138:11-24)

“Death does not change our personality or our desires for good or evil. Those who chose to obey God in this life live in a state of happiness, peace, and rest from troubles and care. Those who chose not to obey in this life and did not repent, live in a state of unhappiness. In the spirit world the gospel is preached to those who did not obey the gospel or have the opportunity to hear it while on earth. We remain in the spirit world until we are resurrected” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 52).  Our resurrection is when our spirit and body are reunited.

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin explained it this way: “We understand that we will live a postmortal life of infinite duration and that we determine the kind of life it will be by our thoughts and actions in mortality. Mortality is very brief but immeasurably important. . . . The understanding we develop in mortality, helps us to make wise decisions in the many choices we have in our daily lives. Seeing life from an eternal perspective helps us focus our limited mortal energies on the things that matter most. . . . By virtue of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we all will be resurrected. Each of us will stand before the judgment bar of the great Jehovah and be rewarded according to our deeds in mortality. If we make every earthly decision with this judgment in mind, we will have used our mortal probation wisely and its days will give us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come” (“The Time to Prepare,” Ensign, May 1998, 14, 16–17). 


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