Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. That means today, we are 2 days away from starting the Gospel of Mark. Go to the website and grab the Scriptural Journal for this study so you can study along with us.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 12:8:

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.— Ecclesiastes 12:8

This is Solomon’s final conclusion. The last echo of a theme he has repeated from the very first line of Ecclesiastes to the very end: "Vanity of vanities... all is vanity."

But this isn’t just repetition—it’s the closing line of a grand experiment.

Solomon, the preacher-king, has tested everything. Wisdom. Pleasure. Work. Wealth. Achievement. He’s chased every path under the sun. He’s tasted every fruit the world has to offer. And here’s his final verdict:

It’s all smoke.

That’s the deeper meaning of the word “vanity” in Hebrew—hevel—vapor, mist, breath, smoke. Something that looks solid but slips through your fingers. It’s not meaningless, but it’s ungraspable. Fleeting. Elusive.

Solomon’s point is simple: if you build your life on anything but God, you build on smoke.

All the tests have been run. All the variables explored. And this is what the wisest man to walk the earth—besides Jesus—wants you to know:

Don’t waste your life chasing smoke.

So stop putting your hope in what won’t last. Stop assuming the next achievement, relationship, or possession will settle your soul. It won’t.

The purpose of Ecclesiastes isn’t to lead us to despair. It’s to lead us to God—the only One who isn’t a smoke show.

#VanityOfVanities, #ChasingSmoke, #WisdomFromSolomon

ASK THIS:

1. What pursuit in your life feels like chasing smoke?
2. Why is it so easy to hope in things that won’t last?
3. How does the word hevel change your view of success?
4. What would it look like to build your life solely on God?

DO THIS:

Identify one thing you’ve been chasing that won’t last—and surrender it to God today.

PRAY THIS:

God, I don’t want to waste my life chasing what won’t satisfy. Teach me to build on what is eternal—You alone. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Jesus Have It All.

Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. That means today, we are 3 days away from starting the Gospel of Mark. Go to the website and grab the Scriptural Journal for this study so you can study along with us.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 12:6-7:

Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.— Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

There’s a sacred weight to these words.

Solomon doesn’t talk about death with fear—but with poetic beauty and sobering clarity. And this is especially meaningful because these are the words of an older man, written near the close of his life—someone who has tasted everything and now speaks with hard-earned wisdom. He uses four metaphors to describe life’s final moments: a snapped cord, a shattered bowl, a broken pitcher, and a ruined wheel. Each one precious, each one fragile, each one irreparable.

That’s the moment when the soul leaves the body. When dust returns to dust. And the spirit goes back to the One who breathed it into being.

This text isn’t just about dying—it’s about living in the light of eternity. It’s about recognizing that life isn’t endless here. That one day, all the activity, all the noise, all the striving will go quiet. And only what was done in relationship with God will last.

We don’t control the moment the cord snaps. But we do control how we live before it does.

That’s why remembering your Creator matters. It frames your days. It humbles your pride. It clarifies your purpose. It prepares you to return—not just to the ground—but to God.

We weren’t made to stay here. But we were made for something more.

#EternalPerspective, #BibleDevotional, #Ecclesiastes12

ASK THIS:

1. What metaphor from Ecclesiastes 12:6 speaks most deeply to you—and why?
2. How often do you think about the eternal impact of your choices?
3. What would change in your life if you lived fully aware of your mortality?
4. Are you prepared to meet the One who gave you life?

DO THIS:

Live today with the end in mind—honor your Creator in everything you do.

PRAY THIS:

God, help me to remember You in every moment, especially when life feels busy or distracting. Teach me to live with a heart that is prepared to return to You. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Feet Of Jesus + All I Need.

Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. That means today we are 4 days away from starting the Gospel of Mark. Go to the website and grab the Scriptural Journal for this study so you can study along with us.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 12:4-5:

And the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— Ecclesiastes 12:4-5

Solomon continues his poetic descent through the aging process—and this time, he describes not just physical breakdown but also emotional and social decline.

The “doors on the street” are shut—perhaps the ears or even social isolation. The “sound of grinding is low”—daily activity slows to a crawl. Rising at the “sound of a bird”—sleep becomes fragile and easily disturbed. “Daughters of song are brought low”—joy is muted, and singing no longer lifts the soul as it once did.

And then the fear creeps in. Fear of falling. Fear of going out. The almond tree blossoms—white hair. The grasshopper drags along—once agile, now slow. And desire? It begins to fade. Not just sexual desire (though let’s be honest—testosterone replacement therapy is more common than ever), but also a decline in passion, motivation, and drive.

Solomon isn’t rubbing it in—he’s inviting reflection. Because the destination is clear: man goes to his eternal home.

He’s asking us: Do you really want to wait until life grows silent, slow, and sorrowful to make eternal decisions? What you still have—your energy, joy, desire, and courage—use it now. Before the mourners gather, choose the joy of the Lord.

#EternalPerspective, #ChooseJoyNow, #DailyDevotional

ASK THIS:

1. What “desire” in your life has faded over time?
2. How do you respond to fears that come with aging?
3. Are you making eternal decisions while you still have strength?
4. What does it mean for you to choose joy before the mourners gather?

DO THIS:

Reflect on one area of your life where you’ve lost desire—and ask God to reignite it with eternal purpose.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, help me see the brevity of life not as a burden but a blessing. Teach me to live each day with eternal purpose and lasting joy. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Grow.