The Mystery of Injustice and Death
Open Your Bible
Ecclesiastes 3:16-22, Genesis 3:19, Psalm 104:28-30, Psalm 119:25-26, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
BY Jessica Lamb
I was recently given a robot vacuum. I’ve wanted one for several years, and the first night we turned it on, my husband and I watched it whir around our living room in awe. Then it stopped abruptly, full of dust, dirt, and who knows what else. We emptied it and ran it again. Then again. We ran it twelve times before it finally seemed satiated. But then when we ran it the next night, it had to be emptied multiple times yet again.
I initially felt defeated. Foolishly, I’d imagined that this gift would mean the permanent end of my dirty floors, instead of understanding it to be a helpful tool in the inevitable. My life is one of perpetually dirty floors, of glitter shed from preschool art projects and baby food flung surprisingly far from the dining room table. There will always be dust for the Roomba at the end of each day. While I can’t stop cleaning, I’m happier when I focus my energy on the joys of the mess-makers instead of pretending like their mess can be fully avoided.
At first glance, the hopelessness of today’s passage seems almost aggressive. Like Adam after the fall (Genesis 3), we read that “all are going to the same place” (meaning we will all die), but then the author of Ecclesiastes seemingly pivots and tells us to “enjoy [our] activities’ (Ecclesiastes 3:20–22).
He tells us to enjoy this life because we know death is a part of our post-fall reality, not just in spite of it. We can’t outrun death any easier than I can outsweep dirt in my home. But if we remember to number our days, we gain wisdom (Psalm 90:12). Against the backdrop of eternity, of knowing that our time here is limited, we can rightly hold all the good and bad of this life in proper perspective.
We can enjoy the blessings in our lives without expecting them to fill us in a way they were never meant to. We can grieve, mourn, and endure pain, because we know those, too, have an expiration date. We can learn to invest our hopes in and entrust our sorrows to an eternal God who satisfies eternally.
And on this side of the cross, we know God does not leave us in dust. Death is not our permanent end. As believers, we will also bear the image of Jesus, the man of heaven (1Corinthians 15:49), whose defeat over the grave is the first taste of a future harvest when all believers will be resurrected (v.20). We know that after death we will find ourselves in the presence of the Lord, where there is abundant joy (2Corinthians 5:8) and resurrection victory over death (1Corinthians 15:57). The gospel transforms the meaning of life, and it transforms the meaning of death.
62 thoughts on "The Mystery of Injustice and Death"
-
But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 We, those created in the image of God, are here on this earth to show God’s Love. To delight in His gifts. To grow closer to Him and long for Him. Days seem long and trials are many, but we are to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58. I write this for myself. As a reminder that this life is fleeting. This Covid is fleeting. The trials of 3 kids, 14.5, 12 and 7 are fleeting. The trials of my marriage are fleeting. A blink and life is back to busy. A blink and kids are grown up and the house is quiet. I need to think of these things daily. To be reminded to work diligently always, as to the Lord. To love on the messes that are blessings. And to pray without ceasing over my husband and marriage. My mind is all over the place- so sorry ladies!
-
The Old Testament people only had the Law, their personal sacrifice and obedience.
Jesus’ New Testament blood, death, and resurrection pay the price for our sin.
Not so that I can keep sinning, but so that I may set free in the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
Jesus’ blood, death, and resurrection gave victory over death.
Solomon realized that God is the judge – that is wisdom.
Solomon realized that we have about the value of dust – again wisdom.
I am awed this morning by God’s great love for us…not only in what Jesus did for us, but the peace we can have in today because we rest in post Jesus times.
We even have the Holy Spirit, indwelling, guiding, comforting. Wow.
If we were to write these verses today, would we have a greater perspective and hope?
Could we/would we declare and stand firm in confidence that yes, God is the judge; yes, we are dust; and the greatest yes, our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. Praise God.-
Well said!
-
-
Oh Solomon, you’ve had your eyes focused on life under the sun far too long. It’s blinded you. You’ve forgotten that you were made first and foremost in the image of God Himself. Therefore there is a very big and significant difference between man and animals. Yes both die a physical death. But that does not mean at all that their destinies are the same. And oh Solomon, animals and man do not have the same breath. God himself breathed life into Adam! While animals can be wonderful pets, they are not equivalent to human beings, who are made uniquely by God to know and serve Him. Man is to rule over the animals, not stand on equal footing with them. Look up and remember, Solomon. Go back and reread Genesis. There is ABUNDANT LIFE here when you live focused above the sun. We can certainly enjoy life on this earth, with our pets, but there is so much more. We are so much more. We are made for so much more. We are little lower than the angels. Oh Solomon. Read the Word.
-
Hm … in fact Ecclesiastes is the Word, too. The consequence of your words would be, not to take all Scripture seriously because it’s „merely“ written by men.
I stumbled over these words from Salomon as well, but they are as much God‘s Word as the teachings of Jesus.
-
Yes, these are most definitely the Word of God as well.
I agree.
Solomon is right.
Everything is futile. To what purpose is anything that we do?
Here he says, enjoy what you do.
Really, this book needs to be read, at least once, all the way through, like an essay.
It’s beautifully summed up at the end: fear God, keep His commandments. And Jesus summed up the commandments in two: Love God with all you are and love others as you love yourself, do this and you will fulfill the commandments.
Life is simple, we make it complicated.
And simple is rarely easy.
-
-
-
Yes, thank you, Jessica. So beautiful. During this time of working and schooling from home your words “While I can’t stop cleaning, I’m happier when I focus my energy on the joys of the mess-makers instead of pretending like their mess can be fully avoided” are an particularly good reminder to me.
-
Life is beautiful, and life is hard, but this life is temporary. Take it all in stride as we wait on eternity with Jesus. Amen
-
I love the last paragraph what joy and pleasure it brings me to think about that day when we all will be in glory with our Heavenly Father
-
Thank you Jessica for this. Beautifully written and I heard every word…❤
-
I found this article about having freedom over the fear of death. https://bible.org/seriespage/freedom-fear-death-john-141-6-and-hebrews-214-15
Not sure how many feel that fear or if you aren’t afraid because of Jesus. I was originally searching to see what was written about the fears of death back in the Biblical times before Jesus came. I know I’ve heard some history about what some believed happened after death. If anyone knows, please share. Thank you
Post Comments (62)