Vanity of Vanities...the Wayfarer 7/14/14
Vanity of Vanities
7/14/14
7/14/14
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities;
all is vanity.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Webster’s first definition of vanity
is something empty, vain, or valueless.
That emptiness and valuelessness is
what is lamented in this opening verse of scripture so familiar to me, so
precious to me, from the book written by Solomon intended to guide a nation,
and more particularly the future leaders of that nation, that were his
children.
Although the third chapter of this
book is probably the most familiar to most, and it in particular has much
wisdom held within it, the entire book is rich with the guidance that Solomon
in all his wisdom attempted to impart to the world.
The entire point of the book itself
is summed up at its end in the 12th chapter, 13th and 14th
verses.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD.
And keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every
secret thing, whether it be good or evil.
As stated previously in more than one
of these attempts to awaken those calling themselves “Christian”, the fear of
God seems to have been supplanted and replaced with all the vanities of the
teachings found in the libraries of men; those most forgetful of the fact that
there is to even be a judgment and accountability for what has been chosen in
this present life.
The attempt to continue to provide
things, instead of values, monetary gain, instead of morality, selfishness
being taught instead of that which was commanded by God, covetousness for all
those things, replacing any semblance of love or guidance for a younger
generation, is promoted and proliferated in the homes of the majority of the
world… and most particularly within the confines of the affluent,
unappreciative actions of those who think they are providing for a “better
future” for children that grow up never appreciating anything because it holds
no value to them, that very value having
never been taught.
“What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh
under the sun?
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:
but the earth abideth forever.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to
his place where he arose.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the
north: it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to
his circuits.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full;
unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:3-7)
The generations pass, new generations
arise, they proceed in a world that is unchanging, unmerciful, uncaring about
the souls of that generation, unmindful of the need to teach the imperatives
taught throughout the scriptures beginning with Genesis when Adam threw away
perfection only to find that the fruit of knowledge of good and evil was an
unworthy substitute for the perfection of God’s love and care… and was told
that he would have to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.
As generations pass, more and more of
them attempt to bypass this first judgment given mankind, looking for any and
all ways around that required labor, teaching the next generation to use deceit
and trickery to take from others instead of the need to comply with that initial
judgment passed there in the garden of Eden.
As that “knowledge” has increased, so
too has the greed for more of the “things” produced by it.
That search for all those “things”
intensified, leading to the need for covenants between God and His people,
covenants continually broken by those people because of the nature of men to
value the valueless things more than the love that was, and is given by God to
this obstinate, unlearned creature of his that never sees the reality of what
Adam really found by choosing that fruit over the obedience asked of him by
God…DEATH!
Death came into the world through
that search for something better than perfection, and continues as that
perfection is ignored by ignoring every single covenant, every single law, and
every single commandment given by God that was intended to give us back that
perfection initially given us.
Countries go to war in search of
those “things” they perceive will give them wealth, provide
their peoples with more pleasure, more of what they may think to be better than
what is held by them in their own lands, gifts given to make that labor less
burdensome, yet each one taking its toll on the soul as perfection is denied
for the things attained in its place.
Individuals, unwilling to submit to
that initial judgment continue to be ever more covetous, ever greedier, and
ever more evil as they are never taught the true values to be had or the
requirements for anything worthwhile that actually holds that value.
Their progeny learn nothing from
their mistakes, taking only the example of demanding more, and giving less
effort for what is taken as any attempt to teach value, morality, the
commandments and requirements of God, are spurned, discipline is ignored, and
failures of those values and morality are simply laughed off as being the
normal interaction expected of them in this world.
Solomon went through the stages of
his life in this book, contributing the lessons he had to learn firsthand, of
what was, and, is of value, and the complete uselessness of all the “things” he
sought out in the journey of that life in search of what held the most value of
all.
This first chapter reminds us that
there is no remembrance of any lessons learned in the past, and that the same
mistakes will constantly be made, and still never be remembered by any yet to
come… that there is indeed, nothing new under the sun.
Solomon lamented the gift of his own
wisdom, as he saw that lack of wisdom and all that lack entailed being promoted
over what he already knew to be the truth of life.
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and
folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth
knowledge increaseth sorrow.
(Ecclesiastes 1:17 & 18)
That grief and sorrow are immutably
inextricable from the wisdom and knowledge sought from and given by God.
Though Solomon is widely hailed as
the wisest man ever to have lived, and, as is evidenced in his writings here, and
in the Proverbs he left us, his wisdom and sorrow pale beside that of the One
who truly was and is the wisest to have ever taken a breath here on this planet
as a human being…Jesus, the Son of God, whose wisdom and love brought him to us
to offer a final covenant, to provide a way back to that perfection denied us by
Adam, and all since, because of the simple fallibility and greed of mankind.
It is through the teachings of Jesus,
that true wisdom, true knowledge; true values may be found… if searched for... and
accepted. It is through Jesus, and the acceptance of his deity as well as his
humanity that allowed Him to bring those teachings to us that provide the
means and only means to attain that lost perfection, far more valuable
that all the vanities that exist, and “take our eyes off the ball”, to use a colloquialism
that occurs daily in the lives of all who are in denial of the need to return
to those teachings by living them instead of merely giving lip service to them
having been given.
The simple message of redemption
through repentance allows for that Fear of God that Solomon spoke of at the end
of his book.
The one commandment given us by
Christ Jesus sums up the entirety of the commandments that are the whole duty
of man he spoke of because, if followed, all other commandments cannot be
violated.
Solomon concluded with the words in
the 13th and 14th verses of the 12th chapter o
Ecclesiastes as has already been given.
Although he was a great and wise king
of his people, and definitely worthy of honor and being heard, there was and is
One greater by far whose words are far more worthy of being heard, the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords, my savior Christ Jesus.
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the
sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
(Revelation 22:7)
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to
give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last.
(Revelation 22:12 & 13)
“I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these
things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright
and morning star.”
(Revelation 22:16)
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly. Amen, Even so come Lord Jesus.
(Revelation 22:20)
In closure I state that all is indeed
vanity that is of this world, that the only thing that is not empty, that is
not valueless, that is not vain is not to be found through the teachings of men;
or the pursuit of all those “things”, but may only be found; if truly and
honestly sought out through the blood sacrifice of the same savior that made
this simple sinner a sinner saved by grace through faith in Him alone, having
none in the “things” offered as poor replacement for perfection I know to exist,
and expect to be granted through that very faith, only after having already
given the required repentance asked for my redemption, and continuing to give
that repentance daily, seeking to be one simple soldier who has indeed heard
the conclusion of the matter.
2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Amen
& Amen
the Wayfarer
the Wayfarer
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