Dust

"What happens to the man's son and what happens to the beast is the same," Ecclesiastes 3:19.

And what is that same fate they all have? They die. Oh, man! Ecclesiastes does not let up on this depressing notion. The Good Book wants us to understand clearly what doing it our own way rather than living in God's love has gained for us: Nothing. People have the same breath as beasts. People have no advantage over animals. All, humans or beasts, go to the same place. Made of dust, they all return to dust. Who knows, asks the Good Book, whether the spirit of humans or of beasts goes up or down? As long as they breathe, humans can only seek satisfaction in doing it their own way, because that's all they get. No kidding. And then it's over. Except: God's love shows when he raised the son of man to life and gave us hope.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we speak of God's eternal comfort and good hope. And together we praise God for his grace in our Lord Jesus Christ.