• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Sept. 8 focuses on James 1:13-18.

When I was in third grade, I checked out a copy of Bullfinch’s Mythology from the school library. The librarian thought I just wanted a big book to carry around. To her surprise, I actually read the whole thing and was able to answer questions about it. I was intrigued by Greek mythology and the soap opera-worthy stories about the pantheon of gods on Mount Olympus. The stories about heroes like Hercules and Odysseus lived in my imagination.

As an adult, I understand how different those gods are from the God we serve. The gods often seemed like only bigger and better versions of the people who worshipped them—both more powerful and more flawed. Alhough they wielded forces like lightning and thunder, they also lied, cheated and played tricks. Sometimes they acted rashly in anger. Sometimes people got caught up as pawns in conflicts between the gods. The gods of mythology were powerful and unreliable forces best treated with fear.

God is not a trickster

This is not the God we serve. Unlike the Greek and Roman gods who sometimes deliberately deceived their heroes or set people up to fail, our God has no tricks or shifting shadows. He is light and the author of all that is good. When we succumb to temptation, we cannot make the excuse God was tempting us. Temptation is contrary to the very character and nature of God. God cannot be tempted, and he does not tempt anyone (v. 13).

If temptation does not come from God, where does it originate? Our own evil desires are one source of temptation (v. 14). James uses the imagery of fishing to explain the danger of temptation. Our desires are like bait for the fisherman’s hook, tempting us and enticing us into danger. When we take the bait, we find ourselves being dragged away by the very thing we once found so desirable—just like a fish caught on a hook. Desire cultivated and nurtured in our hearts leads to sin. Sin’s inevitable result is death.

It’s the same progression we saw in Eden. Eve looked at the fruit of the forbidden tree and saw that it was desirable, both pleasing to the eye and able to make her wise—or so she thought (Genesis 2:6). She had the opportunity to choose obedience, but her desire for wisdom and the appealing fruit tempted her to disobey God. She yielded to her desire and sinned by taking the fruit in disobedience to God’s command. As a result of her sin, death entered the world. Humanity was separated from God.

Not the author of temptation

God may allow us to undergo a season of testing that reveals what is in our hearts, but God never is the author of temptation. God does not delight in evil. He never desires anyone to sin. Rather, God gives us what we need to resist temptation. Whenever we are tempted, God is faithful to provide a way out. He gives us the ability to triumph over temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God is good, and he gives us what is good. He is the “father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). The sun, moon and stars testify to the goodness and power of our creator God, but God surpasses their glory. When we look at the stars, they seem permanent and unchanging, but we know they change with the seasons. The moon goes through its phases each month, sometimes shining brightly and sometimes hidden in shadow. Even the sun changes position in the sky throughout the day, causing the shadows to shift and change.

Our God does not change. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There is no darkness in him, no shifting shadow. When we come to God, we don’t have to wonder if he has changed his mind. We don’t have to fear what he delighted in yesterday he will reject today. We don’t have to be afraid God will trick us or use us as pawns in some greater scheme. God is goodness and light. He does not tempt us; he blesses us.

First fruits

The same God who brought forth the sun and moon by the word of his power also brought us forth by the word of truth (James 1:18). When God spoke at the beginning of time he created the world. Through the gospel, God created the church as a kind of “first fruits” of all creation. The first fruits were an offering the Israelites brought to God at the beginning of the harvest season. Each person brought the first of their harvest as an offering to God. The first fruits were both an offering of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness and a pledge of trust that God would bring in the whole harvest.

James saw the early believers who first read his letter as the first fruits of the church—both the beginning and the promise of the harvest of believers God would bring from every nation. Yet James also says we are the first fruits of all creation.

We know creation still longs for the day of redemption (Romans 8:22-23). We, the church, are the first fruits of the redeemed. The church is God’s promise he will fulfill his word. There will be a day when Christ returns and the world is put under his rightful authority and rule. Instead of living in slavery to sin, our lives should demonstrate the freedom found in submission to our holy and righteous God. God does not tempt us. He sets us free.

 • The Explore the Bible lesson for Sept. 8 focuses on John 1:19-51.

“When was the last time you had your eyes checked?”

That seems like a fairly common question in our world today. It might be asked at a doctor’s appointment, or when getting or renewing your driver’s license. It could be asked of a referee or umpire of a ball game. In this week’s Bible study, much of our lesson comes down to what is seen. Perhaps it is time for us to ask the question, “Is it time for us to get our spiritual eyes checked?”

Seeing Jesus

We begin with what others saw in Jesus. John the Baptist saw him as the Lamb of God. This title was significant, of course, because of the many references to lambs in regard to the Jews’ sacrificial system. Jesus truly would be the sacrifice who would “take away the sins of the world.” It is interesting that John said he did not know Jesus. Jesus and John would have been relatives. Perhaps John meant he did not know Jesus would be the Messiah. God had given a sign—the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove—to John regarding the one who would be the Messiah.

John saw this sign and believed. Eventually, some of John’s disciples saw something in Jesus as well. They began to spend some time with him. Before long, their minds were made up too—they had found the Christ. In addition, Jesus calls Philip to come alongside him. Philip also sees something special in Jesus and begins to follow him.

Being seen by Jesus

The other half of this coin is that Jesus also saw some people in these Scriptures. First, notice the story of Andrew going and finding his brother Simon. What a great story. Andrew is the first real evangelist. He went and found his brother and told him about the Messiah. It is interesting that this first exchange between Jesus and Simon is so short, knowing all that would transpire between them down the road. Jesus sees two things about Simon.

First, he saw the reality of who Simon was. The name “Simon” is appropriate. It means “rash and impulsive.” Most of what we know about Simon in Scripture confirms this was his personality. Jesus knew his history, and yet he still wanted Simon to be one of his followers. The other thing Jesus saw in Simon was who he could become. Jesus changed his name to Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek). This name means “rock.” Jesus saw the potential in this man, and I believe Jesus sees potential in us, as well.

Jesus also saw something in Nathaniel. Philip was not far past Andrew in the evangelism category. He immediately went out, found Nathaniel and brought him to Christ. Jesus told Nathaniel he saw him studying under the tree. This would not have meant much to us, but in their day and time, it was a euphemism for someone who was studying God’s word. Nathaniel took this as almost prophetic and immediately began to place his faith in Christ. And, probably with a wink, Jesus tells Nathaniel he soon will see even greater things.

Clear vision

With all this seeing going on, does it not make you wonder if we are missing something in our day and time? Maybe there is a lot going on around us all the time, and we need to open our spiritual eyes and begin to look at what God is doing.

2 Kings 6 is a great encouragement for us in this regard. Elisha was in the midst of a major battle, but his faith was strong. His servant was not fairing quite as well in that moment of testing. The difference was that Elisha could see something no one else could. Verse 17 tells us: “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

God was providing for their needs, but until the servant recognized the truth, his faith was pretty weak. It is amazing how strong we can be when we see things the way God wants us to see them.

Certainly, we need to see and know God always is at work around us. Sometimes, it is for our protection. At other times, there may be someone around who needs to be introduced to our friend Jesus Christ. Maybe there is some work God wants to do in our hearts or perhaps a work he wants to do through us.

Again, maybe it’s time to get our spiritual eyes checked. Let’s pray God will open our eyes this week to his activity going on all around us.

 • The BaptistWay lesson for Sept. 8 focuses on Hebrews 3:7-4:13.

Much of the book of Hebrews consists of “sermonettes” that reference Old Testament Scripture. Many of these are what preachers refer to as “expository” in nature. In other words, they “expose” or “draw out” the meaning of a single text and apply it to the contemporary audience’s situation. Thus is the case with Hebrews 3:7-4:13.

The text

One of the biggest indictments made about Baptist churches is while they claim to believe the Bible, they fail to use it in worship. Have you ever been to a worship service where the Scripture reading before the sermon felt more like the national anthem before a football game? I attended a church in college where the pastor always read one verse of Scripture from which the sermon was supposed to be based. Following this reading he immediately launched into “10 Steps for Being a Better Christian”—or whatever his chosen topic for that week might have been—and hardly referenced the Scripture throughout the rest of the service.

The opposite is true when the author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95:7-11. This passage speaks of the account in Numbers 14 where the Israelites “tested and tried” God in the wilderness (3:9). It cites God as being “angry with that generation” (v. 10) and proclaims “they shall never enter his rest” (v. 11).

The sermon

Like all good preachers, the author of Hebrews not only quotes the text, but also explains and applies it to his/her audience’s situation. These Hebrews were not trying to enter the “promised land,” as were Caleb and Joshua in the midst of others who were fearful and faithless. However, like all Hebrews, they longed to be obedient to God and avoid sin.

The element that makes this possible where their ancestors failed is they “have come to share in Christ” (v. 14). This phrase indicates a change of status should result in faithfulness if/when the conviction that prompted it is authentic and held firm.

Perhaps you’ve heard the familiar joke suggesting the answer in Sunday school always will be “Jesus.” One teacher asked her class of third graders to guess what she had brought for them in a shoebox. She began giving them hints: It is furry; it is small; it has beady eyes; it has a busy tail. As she enumerated each of these, Billy raised his hand and said, “It sure sounds like you are describing a squirrel, but I know the answer has to be Jesus.” Jesus is indeed the answer when it comes to being obedient.

Obedience and faith often are thought of as being separate, but the author of Hebrews presents them as being interconnected. In the NIV, disobedience is cited as the reason that people do not enter God’s rest (v. 18); yet, verse 19 follows this statement up with the affirmation that “they were not able to enter because of their unbelief.”

The verb that concludes verse 18 normally means “disobeyed” but sometimes is used in the New Testament to mean “refusing to believe.” To the author, these things are impossible to separate. You cannot have one without the other.

The application

The application part of the author’s sermon elaborates on the way “rest” applies to his audience as Christians. From the very beginning of time, God set resting as a typological example for his creation (Genesis 2:2). In the author’s mind, this is when it became something worthy obtaining. The Hebrews recognized their attempts to do this had fallen short. Just as the spies failed to enter the promise land, they failed to receive what was promised to them through their lack of obedience. The good news is this rest still is possible to obtain.

All good preachers save the best for last. This past July, a fireworks show in Waco was spoiled. Someone lost a battery that was supposed to power the main portion of the night’s entertainment. This was not discovered until the show already was underway.

After the introductory fireworks, and many failed attempts to solve the problem posed by the missing battery, officials decided to cut the show short by setting off the finale that was powered by a separate battery. Have you ever been to a fireworks show with only an introduction and a finale? Something about it just felt wrong. Sure, there were elements that were entertaining, but the show was not complete.

After making a well-rounded case citing the Hebrews’ past struggles with disobedience, and their continued need to observe it, the author is prepared to complete his sermon by pointing to what Jesus makes possible to those who believe and obey over the course of time.

“Anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his” (v. 10). Jesus makes possible what Joshua failed to do. While his rest includes faith and obedience, the only work it is contingent upon is the finished work of Christ. In other words, Jesus makes obedience an involuntary response instead of a forced requirement.

How are you responding in obedience to your faith in Christ every day?

 • The Explore the Bible lesson for Sept. 1 focuses on John 1:1-18.

Imagine for a moment you have a relative or friend in a foreign country and you have been asked to send a letter containing life-saving information. Your job in writing this correspondence is to convince them to act in regard to this truth you recently learned. How would you go about writing such a letter? Would you appeal to the strength of your relationship up to that point? Would you appeal to emotion? Reason/logic?

This was the Apostle John’s task as he sat down to write the letter we begin to study. John knew the truth, and it was life-saving information. As a matter of fact, it was eternal life-saving information. John’s task here was to write a letter—inspired by God, of course—that would both reveal truth to people as well as call for commitment from his readers.

Faith connection

The way John chose to do his work can be summed up into two main categories:

First, John shared the truth about who Christ was and why he came to this earth. John did this in dramatic fashion. He showed Jesus as the miracle-working Messiah. In addition, John revealed many of the great conversations and teaching sessions of Christ. The combination of these ingredients makes John’s Gospel such a great book to read.

Second, John focused on why all of this new information mattered to his readers. If what Jesus said was true and if the miracles he performed could be trusted, then Jesus was not just someone interesting to go see; he was someone worth following. Jesus is worth our full commitment. So, over and over again, John called on his readers to “believe.” This means more than mere mental assent to the new facts presented. To believe means we so fully receive this information, we are willing to stake our very lives on Christ.

When these two ideas come together, it is called a faith connection. A faith connection happens when the light of what God has done for us “comes on” within our hearts, and we begin to receive these truths as our very own. This is exactly what John wanted for all who read his letter. I pray this faith connection will happen in your Bible study group during your time in the book of John over the next few months.

Be the Light

My goal in writing will be to help with application of these wonderful Scriptures. Reading this week’s text, two parts of the Scripture stood out to me in regard to a single application: Be the light. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says we are the “Light of the world” (5:14). We have to be part of sharing God’s good news with the world around us.

The first part that stood out to me was verse 5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Most of your Bible study members already will have been convinced about the claims of who Jesus Christ is and why he came. However, sometimes we all forget our job here on this earth is to reveal this ”light” to the world around us. I find this verse incredibly encouraging. At times when we look around, we have to wonder whether we are making much of an impact on the darkness that surrounds us. This verse assures us we are on the right side of this fight. We serve “The Light,” and darkness has not overcome it. We need to continue to be faithful to share what God has done for the world in general and, more specifically, what he has done in our own lives. We need to put our faith in God that he is making a difference through our lives. Do not ever give in to discouragement. In Galatians, we are told, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

The other section of Scripture that captured my attention was verses 11 and 12: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Can’t make pre-judgments

It always is amazing to think about people in Scripture who should have been the first to receive Christ but never received him—the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Meanwhile, those you would have never expected to receive him did—the magi, the woman at the well, etc. This should remind us we have to sow the seeds of the gospel everywhere we go. We cannot make pre-judgments about who will receive the message and who will reject the offer of salvation. Our perceptions most likely will be completely off base.

Let’s join John on this journey to share the truth. We need to be reminded that like John, we have been given life-saving information. Will we keep these truths to ourselves, or will we renew our commitment this week to do our part to share Christ with the world around us?

 • The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Sept. 1 focuses on James 1.

One of the most difficult times in our marriage and ministry came about three years into our first pastorate. My husband entered a period of burnout and depression. It’s more common than you might think.

According to Focus on the Family, 45 percent of ministers have experienced depression or burnout to the degree they needed to take a leave of absence. Despite this, ministerial depression is not a topic discussed frequently in most churches. It caught us unprepared.

We sought help from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. My husband slowly began climbing his way out of the pit with the help of the counselor and resources they provided for us. Together, we began to set new boundaries, and he was able to change thought patterns and habits that had contributed to the depression.

Isolated and alone

Those changes were good, but in the midst of it, I felt isolated and alone. I was angry—at my husband for not doing more to help himself; at our church for not seeing our struggle; at God for allowing the whole mess in the first place. I never allowed myself to consider divorce, but there were days I simply wanted out. It felt like my prayers were the only lifeline keeping me from going under. I believed God was faithful, but sometimes, I wasn’t sure we were going to survive the season of trial.

I can’t say I responded to that season of trial with joy. Desperation is a better description. Still, God was real to me during that season. He gave me the strength to face each day. He helped me remain faithful in the midst of difficulties. He was comforter and friend at a time I felt very alone.

On this side of it, I can say our marriage is stronger for having survived that season. My husband is a better minister for having walked through that time of trial. I don’t believe God sent that season of depression and burnout, but I can say God used it to refine our faithfulness. When God makes himself real to us in the midst of trials, that is reason to rejoice.

No stranger to trials

The first readers of James’ letter were no strangers to trials. Jewish believers who had fled persecution, they now were living as strangers and aliens outside of their homeland. They knew poverty and oppression. Rich people took advantage of them and hauled them into court. People mocked their faith (James 2:6-7, 5:4-6). Suffering was a part of daily life.

When writing to people experiencing suffering, most of us would offer words of comfort and hope. James told those suffering believers to “consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds (v. 2). Joy is more than happiness; it is the pleasure found in experiencing the presence of God.

In Jewish thought, some teachers considered joy the opposite of fear. Some might consider poverty, oppression and persecution good reason to fear, but James tells them to consider their trials “pure joy.” How is it even possible?

Trials are an occasion for joy, because they are an opportunity to demonstrate godly character (vv. 3-4). When our faith is tested, we are presented with the opportunity to make a choice: Right now, in this situation, will I choose to be faithful? Choosing faithfulness even when it is costly develops perseverance. As we choose faithfulness and persevere in the face of trials, perseverance works in us to develop maturity and completeness.

Be ‘perfect’

Though the NIV translates it “mature,” some translations use the word “perfect.” In the Old Testament, God commanded his people to “be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Jesus also echoed this thought: “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

The idea of perfection was linked closely with holiness: being perfect or complete as in lacking no quality of godly character. God’s holiness also can be described as completion. God lacks nothing and needs nothing. Our holiness is dependent on his. A “mature and complete” person is characterized by an undivided heart, someone fully devoted to God.

We can rejoice in the face of trials because those trials provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate our devotion. Like crushed fruit produces juice, pressure reveals what is in us. When we remain faithful under trials, we reveal Christ to a watching world.

God uses difficulties and trials to refine us. Trials reveal where we still need to grow in faith and give us the opportunity to be shaped into the image of God. Persevering through trials helps us reach maturity in the eyes of God.

Consider trials ‘pure joy’

We may not experience the kinds of pressures those early believers were acquainted with. Yet the language is broad enough for us to place our own pressures alongside this verse. Cancer, financial difficulty, marital stress, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, chronic pain, depression—we can consider these trials all “pure joy.”

All these situations provide us with the opportunity to discover who God wants to be to us in our time of trial. Protector, provider, sustainer, comforter or healer—God does not abandon us in times of trial but gives us the strength to respond in faith and endure. When we experience his strength sustaining us in times of trial, we should consider it pure joy.

 • The BaptistWay lesson for Sept. 1 focuses on Hebrews 1.

While in seminary, I pastored a rural church of about 20 people. One of its most faithful members was Dorothy Wilson—a short, white-haired, spunky lady in her 90s. She drove 30 minutes to worship with the small congregation. In one of our initial conversations about the church, I asked her what made her start driving all that way to worship.

“Well,” she said, “one day, my husband and I were wondering around, exploring an old area where we grew up together, and we were surprised to see that this church was still standing. He had vague memories of going here when he was a boy, so out of curiosity, we decided to visit one Sunday. We knew after that first Sunday that we would be back.”

Their experience is not uncommon, except for the fact Dorothy and her husband were Lutheran. “We didn’t know all the differences between the two denominations, but we were certain that the people in this little church knew and loved Jesus.” While denominational differences are important, Dorothy realized what was most critical in the life of any church—the place it gives Jesus. This is chief concern of the book of Hebrews.

Interesting and mysterious

Hebrews is one of the most interesting and mysterious books in the New Testament. Its author is unknown, its form is ambiguous, and its audience is broad. Its conclusion confirms it is some sort of written communication from one party to another, even though its introduction lacks a greeting and jumps directly into a theological discourse—much the same way the Gospel of John does. Because of its great many references to Old Testament passages, people and Jewish custom, it is assumed the audience for its message is of Hebrew origin.

Hebrews 1:1-6; 14

The overall message of Hebrews is focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the opening chapter wastes no time in jumping into the heart of the matter. It presents Jesus as God’s final revelatory word, the “heir of all things” and the one “through whom also (God) made the universe” (v. 2). As such, the author wants to stress Jesus is more than another prophet, or even one of “ the sons of God,” a title angels were collectively given in the Old Testament (Genesis 6:2; Job 1:6; Psalm 29:1). Rather, he is “the son,” a title that links him directly to God and indicates he is “the exact representation of (God’s) being” (v. 3).

It is likely some Hebrews for whom this was written had heard about Jesus, chose to believe in him, but struggled putting their newfound belief in to practice. Perhaps it was tempting for them to recognize Jesus in the way they wanted, or in the way that felt most comfortable, instead of the way he is revealed in Scripture.

In the movie Talladega Nights, there is a scene where the rich racecar driver, Ricky Bobby, is sitting around the dinner table with his family. As they all bow their heads to pray, he begins: “Dear little baby Jesus … .” His wife stops him in the middle of the prayer, informs him Jesus is all grown up, and demands for him to stop praying that way. “I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I’m saying grace” he tells her, as if that gives him the right to approach the Lord on his own terms.

We may not pray with such overtly flippant attitudes, but that does not mean we never deny Jesus his rightful place in our lives in more subtle ways.

I struggle with how to teach my 2-year-old daughter how to pray. I want her to feel comfortable approaching Jesus, but I do not want her to see him as a magical genie. As she repeats the short phrases I pray over her at bedtime, I try to make a point to begin with thanksgiving (for our day, school, food, church, house, etc.), follow with petition (for a restful night, a good day tomorrow, help in behaving, etc.), and end with a declaration of love and confession.

I think it is important to teach her to express her love to Jesus and desire for forgiveness from him, because those two things are not dependent on circumstantial details in our lives. They are possible because of who Jesus is and what he already has done as our Lord and Savior. When we lose sight of that, Jesus becomes what we want instead of who he is.

Hebrews 2:1-4

Regardless of our heritage or upbringing, it is possible to drift away from an authentic understanding of Christ. This is what the second chapter of Hebrews goes on to warn about. The phrase “drift away” in verse 1 means more literally “to flow by.”

Consider the way a river or a drifting boat effortlessly moves along a current. It is not driven by what it does but by what it is failing to do. The author of Hebrews is concerned with a failure to recognize Christ and the full implications his salvation brings (v. 3).

If Jesus is real to us, then we must take an active role in recognizing him for all that he is in our thoughts, prayer and worship. What place does Jesus have in your life?

• The Explore the Bible lesson for Aug. 25 focuses on Ecclesiastes 11:1-5, 9-10; 12:13-14.

This final section of Ecclesiastes pulls everything together in an attempt to give closure, though not necessarily simply. Instead, Qoheleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, is concerned with how to move forward in life, even if air-tight answers are not available.

The first part of this section involves our actions. Often, we want to know the “bottom line,” or “where the rubber meets the road.” In other words, we want to know what we should do about the circumstances that confront us. Ecclesiastes gives us something of an answer: “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land” (11:2).

This sounds like the old proverb, “Don’t put all your eggs into one basket.” Certainly there is wisdom in this statement, but there is also more to be said. Qoheleth’s emphasis on diversifying one’s efforts is not aimed at having the best overall growth in one’s investment portfolio. Instead, no one knows what course life will take: “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things” (v. 5).

The instabilityof existence

The instability of human existence is not for human beings to understand, yet when we do experience its twists and turns, we must remember God is somewhere behind it. While the world is plagued by sin, this does not remove God’s good governance from the equation. So what should be done? We should move forward with the risk-taking that is part and parcel of living as human beings, even if some of those risks ultimately fail.

For this reason, Ecclesiastes sees tremendous advantage to being young, and young people are advised to “be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth” (v. 9). Since life involves taking risks—whether through financial investments, education for a specific career, marriage, child-raising or employment relocation—young people are in a better spot since they can take more risks and have more time to see what results emerge.

At the same time, young people often do not have the experience to know the best decision. Nonetheless, these actions will be judged by God, so they should be taken with care and consideration. So, no matter our age, Ecclesiastes gestures towards enjoying life to the fullest under God’s care.

All is meaningless

The latter half of this passage brings Ecclesiastes full circle and serves as the conclusion for the entire book. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth has emphasized the meaninglessness of virtually all human activity and values. Pleasure is meaningless. Wealth is meaningless. Even godliness and righteousness are meaningless with regard to delaying death.

While he has hinted wisdom still is a better path, he declares it much more firmly here: “Fear God and keep the commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil” (12:13-14).

Some readers of Ecclesiastes see this as a simple blanket that covers the turmoil we observed in earlier chapters. Instead, we should see these concluding words as in tension with what one commentator calls Qoheleth’s “troubled restlessness.” This may in fact move us closer to answering life’s great questions, not by giving us neat and tidy responses, but by opening up the possibility to move on with life in faithfulness to God—fearing/respecting God and keeping the commandments.

Love God, love neighbor

For Christians, this reference to commandments should remind us that all the Old Testament law is summed up by love of God and love of neighbor. Thus, whenever we sense that life’s circumstances are pressing us down, we know what to do and how to live—in Christ-like love of God and service to others.

In conclusion, Ecclesiastes as a whole draws from the depth of the wisdom tradition in advising readers to “fear God,” a phrase that also appears in Job and Proverbs. As has been mentioned in earlier passages, wisdom is not simply concerned about living, but living well in the midst of good times and bad. Let Qoheleth’s words encourage us along this path.

 • The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Aug. 25 focuses on John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5, 12-14.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He placed two trees in the garden: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. God told Adam and Eve to stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but they were free to eat from the Tree of Life and every other tree. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the garden. They had communion with him, and all was well.

But then they decided to disobey God. The decision to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil led to utter separation and brokenness. Fellowship with God was severed, and humanity was exiled from the garden. Scripture says God sent them out of the garden so they would not eat from the Tree of Life and live forever. Sin brought waves of consequences, including disease, fractured relationships, emptiness and ultimately death.

Death was a gift

If Adam and Eve reached the Tree of Life and ate from its branches, humanity would live forever in absolute brokenness. God showed incredible love and grace by ushering us out of the garden, so hope would remain. Death was a gift.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see God paving the way for a relationship with humankind again. He made a covenant with Abraham, Moses and David. He gave us the law so we would have a picture of how life ought to be lived. He guided the building of the temple so his Spirit could dwell here on Earth. He set up the sacrificial system so sins could be forgiven and fellowship could be restored.

Ultimately, he sent his son, Jesus. God in the flesh stepped down from heaven to walk with us. He lived a perfect life, took on the sins of the world and made the final payment for our disobedience. Jesus was beaten for our rebellion and crucified for our crimes. He was raised from the dead on the third day and went to prepare a place for us to spend eternity. This eternal home will be beautiful, filled with the presence of God, and there will be no more tears or brokenness (Revelation 21:1-4).

The Genesis signpost

N.T. Wright put it this way: “The glorious world of Genesis 1 was the beginning of something rather than an end in itself. It was itself a great signpost, pointing to the world that God always intended to make out of it.”

When all things are made new and everything broken is put back together, we once again will dwell with God and the Tree of Life. Garden life will be ours once again. Revelation 22:2 says the tree will heal the nations with its leaves. God will make all things new and will live with us in the way he always intended.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil already has been devoured. We have chosen sin and have tasted the fruit of bitterness, pain and disease for many days. But the Tree of Life is before us. When Jesus returns, he will make all things new, and we will live forever with him (Revelation 1:5).

Today, we must live life between the two trees. We must navigate our struggles with the end in mind. We must face sin with the promise of forgiveness. We must endure pain, knowing healing is in our future. We must pray his will be done on this earth, just as it is in heaven. This is not the end of the story.

Scaffolding designed to come down

N.T. Wright used this example: “Earlier today, I came upon some workmen who were putting scaffolding up around an old stone building. Scaffolding is normally extremely functional: It’s made to do a job, not to look pretty. But supposing a builder decided to construct a beautiful shell of scaffolding? Supposing he made it so stunning that people came to admire the scaffolding itself, without even realizing that there was something far, far more impressive being built inside it? When the building was finished, some might be sad at the thought that this wonderful sight was to be taken away. But the builder would, of course, insist on removing the scaffolding, however splendid it was. That was the point of it in the first place, to do its job and then be dismantled for the ultimate reality, the real new building, could be seen in all its glory.”

The scaffolding will come down, and God’s eternal home will be filled with people of all colors, races, backgrounds and economic groups. We will be reunited with our God fully. And he will complete the story he started so long ago.

• The BaptistWay lesson for Aug. 25 focuses on 1 Corinthians 15:3-20, 35-44, 50-57.

We recently watched the movie Warm Bodies—yes, we are behind the times and wait for movies to come out on Netflix. If you don’t know the movie, it’s about zombies. Yes, another zombie movie. But this one is different. Really! It’s a romance and a story about hope.

Spoiler alert: In the movie, a zombie who calls himself R falls in love with a human named Julie. He rescues her from the other zombies, and they begin an awkward relationship. A turning point in the film comes when Julie and R are confronted by R’s fellow zombies and some super zombies—“bonies”—bent on destroying everyone. Julie holds R’s hand, and when the fellow zombies see this, it sparks hope inside them. This hope gradually gives both R and the other zombies the impetus to transform into living beings again.

Resurrected bodies

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he had to address numerous issues that came up within the church. One of those issues was the question of resurrection. Paul, like many of the early Christians, believed Jesus would come back in his lifetime. But when fellow believers started dying, questions arose about what would happen to those who died before Christ returned. If bodies were resurrected, would these dead arise in bloated, decayed, flesh-shredded bodies? Would there be a New Testament zombie apocalypse? Such a horrible thought apparently caused some believers to reject the idea of resurrection entirely (v. 12).

So, Paul wrote a treatise on the resurrection, beginning with the good news that many witnessed Jesus in his resurrected form (vv. 1-8). Since Jesus was resurrected, why would anyone suggest there was no resurrection of the dead (v. 12)? Paul emphasized how crucial this doctrine of the resurrection was. Indeed, it was central to the Christian faith (vv. 13-18). Using a typology of Adam (the man of dust) and Christ (the man of heaven), Paul emphasized that although death came through Adam, life came through Christ (vv. 45-49).

A dying seed

Using several analogies (vv. 37-41), Paul argued the earthly body was like a seed—perishable when it is sown. But the seed “dies” and then arises into new life as a plant (vv. 37-38). In a similar way, the human body is perishable. It is “sown in weakness but raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body” (vv. 43-44).

Thus, Paul apparently believed in a sort of synthesis between the Jewish belief in bodily resurrection and the Greek view of a spiritual resurrection. For Paul, the physical body was replaced by a spiritual body that would be imperishable. This is the body that would be resurrected (vv. 50-54).

With this Paul burst into a hymn: “Death has been swallowed up in victory, ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your string?’” (vv. 54-55). In Christ, the victory over death already is won. That is the hope Paul wanted to convey.

The passage concludes, however, not with the resurrection but with the here and now. The whole point of Paul’s treatise was to encourage the Corinthians to live their lives steadfastly, immovably and excellently, because they could be assured their work was not in vain. In other words, the hope of resurrection was what gave them the impetus to live.

How to live

I doubt Paul wanted the Corinthians to fixate on what happened after death, even though the questions they had about the resurrection were legitimate. Rather, Paul wanted them to focus on how to live. That is what the book of 1 Corinthians is really all about—living the Christian life and living it with hope.

And that is what this entire series of lessons has been about—living life. We’ve considered the stories of many heroes and heroines at different life stages and in various life situations. In each case, we’ve discovered something about how to live.

Jesus did not speak much about the afterlife. Instead, he emphasized the kingdom of heaven was among the people now (Matthew 10:7). He taught his disciples they were to create heaven on earth by living lives that went above and beyond the law (Matthew 5:1-7:29). They were to focus on loving God and loving neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). And that is why I believe Jesus commanded them—and us—to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

As believers, we have the hope of the resurrection. But this hope should be the impetus for us to live lives that create heaven on earth now by feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, visiting the imprisoned and loving the unloved.

It is how we live that matters most.

• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Aug. 18 focuses on Luke 22:44-49; Acts 1:6-8; 2:41-47.

The church is God’s plan of hope for the world. After Jesus died and was resurrected, he left the church to do what he had been doing in the world. He commissioned the church to heal, feed and love as he had. We are to be Christ, in the flesh, on this earth. Our task is to make disciples in our cities, countries and throughout the world.

Many churches today struggle just to stay alive. They change things up to stay relevant but still find no success. Jesus told his followers they would be able to do nothing apart from him (John 15). Jesus knew our weaknesses and our struggles firsthand, and he knew his power would be required for us to do anything of eternal value.

Jesus told his disciples to wait for his spirit in order to move forward in the task ahead (Luke 24:44-49). The church, both individually and collectively, must be empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to be effective in our world for Christ.

Presence of the Holy Spirit

Many of us can recall our overwhelming feeling when we first came to know Jesus. Some call it a “spiritual high,” others describe it as “full joy.” The Holy Spirit’s presence in that moment is unmistakable. But as we journey with Christ, at times we doubt the Spirit’s power in our lives.

We wonder what it means to really walk in the Spirit or to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The topic has been researched and discussed by numerous authors and pastors, and we still do not understand fully the Holy Spirit.

Jack Levison, a professor of New Testament at Seattle Pacific University, we describes five common misunderstandings surrounding the work and nature of the Holy Spirit. These misconceptions can hinder our relationship with Christ and our ability to carry out the tasks he has called us to.

First, the Holy Spirit works in spurts. This is not true. Every breath we breathe is another opportunity for the Spirit to work in and through us. The actual Greek word for “spirit” means “breath” or “wind.” We would not survive if we only took breaths in spurts. We constantly must have air in order to keep living. We also need the Spirit every moment of every day. We must seek him with every single breath.

The Spirit’s spectacular work

Second, the Spirit’s work is spectacular. Many of us are standing around waiting for a mountain-top experience. We want something quick and noteworthy to happen in our lives. But we know from Scripture, many times, the Spirit works over a long period of time. Daniel refused to do what was popular in order to gain status. Instead, he opted for a simple obedience through his diet and focused on studying. The Spirit worked in him in unbelievable ways because he was committed to simplicity over a long period of time.

Third, the Spirit is spontaneous. Sure, God has the power to act in any way he sees fit and at any time. But we see the Holy Spirit emerging when people have prepared diligently. If you look at the church in Antioch, in the book of Acts, you will see they grew rapidly. Many of us desire the same sort of growth in our churches today.

The church of Antioch did not have a crazy outreach scheme with fancy videos and brochures. Rather, they studied Scripture under Paul and Barnabas for a year. They were generous with their finances. They lived life together—sharing meals, developing disciplines and praying together. They did these things faithfully, and then the Holy Spirit moved in incredible ways. The Holy Spirit works where the climate has been cultivated.

Commanding ad authoritative

Fourth, the Spirit is commanding and authoritative. Elijah met God, not in the wind of the storm and not in the shattering noise of the earthquake, not in the roar of the fire, but in the sound of a gentle blowing. The Holy Spirit has a still, small voice. In order to hear God’s spirit, we must hush and wait patiently for his voice.

Fifth, the Spirit is safe and gentle. Nothing is safe about the path and life God called his followers to live. In Mark 1:12, the Holy Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness just like Jesus drove demons out of the possessed. The Holy Spirit moves with power and moves us to places and opportunities we cannot handle on our own. The Holy Spirit knows we learn best against the odds, and his own power is perfected in our weakness.

If you are expecting God’s Spirit to work in your life in a specific formula or at a specific time, you may be looking in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Levison says: “If you think the Holy Spirit’s work moves suddenly and spontaneously, that it always appears in glamorous and authoritative displays—think again. The Spirit of God is steady—always present and always at work, whether in spectacular or simple ways.”

May our churches be marked by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, not only during times of revival or big events, but in the daily workings and relationships. He is faithful to equip and empower us for the task to which he has called us. He is constant.

• The Explore the Bible lesson for Aug. 18 focuses on Ecclesiastes 9:3-12, 15-18.

This section of Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most pessimistic of the entire book, even though the themes explored here are not new. Nonetheless, don’t be surprised to find yourself feeling down when you read Qoheleth’s words.

The first part of this passage returns to an idea seen earlier: Death is the universal fate of all creatures. “All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not” (v. 2).

In our world, this is an odd thing to speak about so boldly. In fact, we often search for ways to avoid discussing and facing death, even at funerals. There are two things to notice here. First, death is a reality of life—not an enemy of life, but an integral part of it. Even Qoheleth wants to delay death as much as possible because “a live dog is better off than a dead lion” (v. 4). If life is better than death, then Qoheleth advises life should be enjoyed, because things may change in an instant.

Time and chance happen to all

The insecurity that comes from success and virtue also is seen in shifting life circumstances: “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. … As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them” (vv. 11-12).

Like other portions of Ecclesiastes, we can identify with the point being made. In the current economic situation in the United States, many good and honest people have suffered, and not because of their own choices. As quickly as life was easy, the situation changed, and many people experienced hardship. In other words, having wealth or even possessing wisdom will not guarantee a comfortable life.

There is a determinism to Ecclesiastes that might make readers throw up their hands and leave their faith behind. Clearly, texts like these run against the grain of American slogans proclaiming anyone can do anything as long as they try hard enough. Pure willpower is not sufficient to change one’s situation; you have to have luck as well. Ecclesiastes’ perspective is in fact a long-held one.

It might help us to remember that, for ancient and medieval philosophers—including the Christian philosopher Boethius—the “wheel of fortune” was described as a large round stone wheel set on its side, moving as it wished with no predictability. Some people, those who stand atop the wheel as it rolls, gain significant benefits; others, those who fall underneath the weight of the wheel, are subject to the cruel fate of fortune. Thus, despite the overt pessimism of Ecclesiastes, we should remember Qoheleth is saying something true: Wisdom is to be desired, but it does not necessarily make life any easier.

Importance and limits of wisdom

The latter section of this passage discusses the importance and limits of wisdom. Verses 15-16 mention a poor wise man who saves a city through his wisdom, but he is not remembered, nor his wisdom heeded, because of this poverty. This is an interesting point that Qoheleth, who is by all accounts a very wealthy person, is making: Wealth and wisdom are better than wisdom without wealth. While there may be some merit to this idea, it is important to keep in mind that wealth also has the capability to corrupt one’s character. This danger is discussed in the final verses of this chapter, where even “one sinner destroys much good” (v. 18).

Numerous times a prominent Christian leader has done a great deal of good in the world, only to see this lost because of one misstep. Certainly no one is perfect, and there is forgiveness to be received. Nonetheless, Qoheleth wants us to realize the importance of strong moral character. One commentator writes, “A little of a bad thing (folly) can spoil quite a lot of a good thing (wisdom).”

• The BaptistWay Bible study lesson for Aug. 18 focuses on Deuteronomy 34.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to write was my mom’s obituary. A few weeks before she died, she looked at me and said, “Susan, you need to write my obituary.”

“Now?” I asked, mortified.

“Yes. Because I want to read it and make sure it says what I want it to say.”

So, I headed to the back bedroom where her computer was and stared at the blinking cursor feeling like vultures were landing on my shoulders. How do you write someone’s obituary before they die?

I finally decided to start with what I hoped would be true, “Mary Kay Day died peacefully at her home on (date) surrounded by her family and friends.” I continued writing about my mom’s growing up years and her marriage to my father—all the usual things one includes in an obituary.

I don’t know how long it took me. But, finally, I printed it out and took it to her. She began reading and immediately said, “No!”

“No, what?” I asked, panicked. She’d read the first line and I had already screwed something up!

I’m not going peacefully!

“Take out ‘peacefully.’ I’m not going peacefully.”

And she spoke truly. My mom did not go peacefully to her death. She fought it every step of the way. I think I know why. She felt cheated. She wanted to see her two grandchildren grow up. She did not want death to take that from her, so she fought death with everything she had. But ultimately, death won, and she had to surrender to it.

How does one die well? The question has been plaguing me ever since I started thinking about this lesson. At first, I thought: “Oh, Moses. He goes to the top of a mountain, sees the Promised Land, and dies. Good job, Moses.” But, as with all death, it’s more complicated than that.

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 briefly explains the reason Moses would die alone at the top of a mountain rather than lead the Israelites victoriously into the Promised Land. God told him it was because he “broke faith” in the Desert of Zin and “did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites,” Moses would die and not enter the land he had dreamed of since leaving Egypt.

Moses left out

The original story is found in Numbers 20:1-13. It is a story that has troubled readers for generations, and rightly so. After all Moses did for Israel and for God, he hits a rock, and it’s all over for him. He has to lead the people to the brink of the Promised Land, but he himself cannot enter. “What’s up with that?” as many of my students ask.

Interpreters offer several reasons why Moses was punished so harshly: He berated the people; he claimed he (not God) would bring water from the rock; he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Regardless, the key is that, whatever Moses did, he did not trust God. Back in Numbers 13-14, the reason the first generation of Israel could not enter the Promised Land was the same: They did not trust God. So, God punished Moses the exact same way God punished the first generation. If you fail to trust God, you will not enter.

But emotionally the story of Moses’ punishment and subsequent death seems so unfair. Moses put up with all the Israelites’ whining and complaining 40 years. Moses interceded for them time and again. Couldn’t God cut Moses some slack? Didn’t Moses deserve the reward of the Promised Land?

I find Deuteronomy 34:1-12 even more unsettling. In verses 1-4, Moses climbed the mountain, and God showed him the entire Promised Land. Then God said: “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

Seeing the Promised Land

So, God brought Moses up the mountain to show him what he could not possess right before he died. Yes. He got to see it. And maybe this was a tender moment during which God allowed Moses at least that. But to me, it is bittersweet and heartbreaking that God would show Moses the land and then deny it to him. Then, verse 5 says Moses died at the Lord’s command. Moses wasn’t sick or on the brink of death. He was still full of vigor (v. 7), which means God put him to death.

Is this dying well? To be honest, I’m not sure.

What redeems Moses’ death for me is the obituary that follows in verses 10-12: “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

Not how you died, but how you live

The important thing is not how or why Moses died, but how Moses lived. And isn’t that true for all of us?

Did my mom die well? She suffered. She was in pain. She fought death until the very end. But ultimately, she could not choose how or when to die, only how she would live. Death is the ultimate surrender. One does not get a report on the death certificate stamped “Died well” or “Died poorly.” My mom lived well, and that is what is important.

Death is death. All of us will face it. For some, it will come suddenly and unexpectedly. For others, it will happen slowly and painfully. Some will simply fall asleep. Others will suffer. Some will take their own lives; some will have their lives taken violently from them; some will give their lives to save others.

But in the end, the question is not, “Did he or she die well?” The question is, “Did he or she live well?”