Ecclesiastes 3:12-22

Ecclesiastes 3:12-22New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity. All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?

Who knows what's to come.

Truth is that we have no idea what comes next. We have vague notions of heaven and hell based on tradition that has been passed down, but nothing really concrete about what to expect of either place.  For my part, I'm doubting there will be chubby cherubs playing harps on clouds, or red-horned demons poking people inside a ring of fire.

All we really know, the teacher tells us, is that God endures forever.

That life is a gift.

That life is meant to be lived fully and enjoyed.  Even our work.

And that God knows the rest. Knows our hearts. Knows our dreams. Knows our hopes. Our fears.

Our sins.

Our triumphs.

Our pain.

Ecclesiastes could be read perhaps with an air of futility. 

Or it could be read with hope and wonder.

God endures forever.

Life is a gift.

Yes, sometimes it is grinding. And scary. And seemingly futile.

You might wonder where it is leading. Or what the point is.

We might look around and wonder at what comes next and worry about it.

Or we might look around and see that whatever it is that comes next, we know that God endures.

And so hope endures.

Lord, let me not worry about tomorrow, but grab on tightly to the gift of today. Amen