Read the Bible in a Year 
This morning read Ecclesiastes 1--3 


What Is Life? 


In the church with which I am currently working, we have a man who is at the end of life. He is 97. He may even have died before this e-mail devotional is sent. (I am composing it on September 15th, but you will receive it the 19th.) It was not too long ago that this man was able to do 80 pushups a day. Yes, you read that right. Even in his 90s, he was doing 80 pushups a day. I questioned whether he did them all in a row, and he assured me that he did. Then I questioned whether they were "girl" pushups, that is, with his knees on the ground. This man in his mid-90s then got down on the ground and did three or four pushups with only his toes and hands on the ground. I am glad that he did not ask to see me do eight pushups!

When I read Ecclesiastes 2:17, I thought of this man. 

17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Ecc. 2:17). 

Suddenly this man has shriveled up as his body is readying to die. It is sad to see this once very physical man deteriorate. However, his spirit is still in shape. Every time I see him, I ask if I can pray with him, and he is firm in his affirmation. The pushups are gone, but the push up to heaven is as strong as ever. Ultimately, all labor is vanity and grasping for the wind, but that which we do for the spirit is forever.