Read Ecclesiastes 8

“Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.”
— Ecclesiastes 8:12

This verse by the wise King Solomon serves as both a warning and a comfort. To those who practice evil, it is a warning. But to those who fear God, it is a comfort.

How easy it is to be deceived by sin! It seems to go unpunished even a hundred times. And the wicked appear to have many days of pleasure. But will it be well with their soul? The conclusion is everything. How the story ends is only what matters.

You can eat, drink and be merry in this life, but will you stand on judgment day? You can live in comfort, but will you enter into the joy of the Lord when eternity dawns? All the secrets of a man's heart may go unnoticed in this life, but all things are open and naked to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account! (see Hebrews 4:13)

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:25)

Just as every story is ultimately judged by its ending, so too is every man's life judged by whom he trusts when he dies. Is Christ the author and finisher of your life, or are the pleasures of this world?

We cannot pass by the man who was crucified next to Jesus - that wretched criminal who did not go unpunished for his crimes in this life. I often wonder: What was his life? How had he come to this point? We do not know. But what we do know is how his life ended. For what a glorious thing that of all people, Jesus the Savior, would be dying next to him that day! And in the final breaths of his life, he chose to fear God and trust in the blood of Christ! And to him our Lord said —

““Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”” (Luke 23:43)

Don't be mistaken. What we do in this life matters. It matters a great deal. There is much to gain in fearing the Lord, and there is much to lose in pursuing wickedness. But this life is ultimately determined in Whom you trust. And Beloved, if we trust in the Savior, we must know that it will be well with our soul! This is our blessed assurance! This is our everlasting security!

“…For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

Whatever life may be today or may bring tomorrow, we can take great comfort that it ends on the note of blissful eternity when we hear the word of our Lord say:

“‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord.’” (Matthew 25:23)