VANITY OF VANITIES

Welcome back church to your 24/7 online church service. Yes folks, the church has survived another Halloween weekend. Jesus is still Lord and everyone is welcome in this place.

We are going to learn in this week's service that without God in our lives, everything is vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit. You might ask, what does that mean? I am going to explain what it means and how it relates to our lives in this present time. God has been dealing with me regarding this subject for the last couple of weeks. I pray God's anointing on this message. I know I am being obedient to what God wants me to share with you. I know you will be blessed. I only ask you to consider thoughtfully the ramifications of what things would be like if we really did put God first in all things. My friends, it would be a much different and better world we live in.

In a previous message, I reflected on the state of our world as we now live in it. We look around us and there is trouble on every side. It is basically impossible to escape from it. However, we can have victory over it by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives and by putting God first in all our affairs of life. In the natural and within our own selves, there are really no cures for all the ills of this world. I proclaimed at that time that the reason we are in the state we are in is because since the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, nation after nation, family after family and individual after individual have decided they know better than God how to live life today. I referred you to Proverbs 14:12.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

God has impressed on me to further explore this truth. What do we have in this life when God's ways are ignored, mocked and left by the wayside of life? The answer, my friends, is in the book of Ecclesiastes (OT) the book following Proverbs.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, or “The preacher” as the book calls him. King Solomon was known as, and he was, the wisest man ever known. God gave him the gift of wisdom in its fullest. Even with the wisdom Solomon had, there were times when he was not right with God. King Solomon did everything to the max. When he lived for God, he really lived for God. And when he didn't, he did every evil thing to the highest degree. His message to us, my friends, endorsed by God, is that life without God is vanity of vanities. Please turn to Ecclesiastes 1:2.

“Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

The Holy Spirit, speaking through Solomon, say's all that man has done and all that man is, even with his accumulation of wealth, beauty, power or glory can never satisfy the cravings of the human heart. Incidentally, my friends, the word vanity means empty nothings. The reason Solomon knew this is because when he wrote this, he was not right with God. He realized with his wisdom that without God everything is empty nothings. Everything we have, everything we do, everything we accomplish is vanity of vanities, empty nothings.

The preacher talks about how God originally made man upright or righteous. God's original plan was for righteousness to prevail on the earth. That way, man and woman would subdue and replenish the earth, all things would be under our dominion. There would be no sin, therefore no deceit, lying, sickness, wars, sorrow or even death. But man from the beginning sought out things differently than what God desired for us. Refer to Ecclesiastes 7:29 (Solomon speaking).

“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”

I have often said, the Bible is God's direction book for life. Yet, how many things or ways of living do we invent that are opposite of the teaching and the direction of the Word of God, and we call that good!! Vanity of vanities, my friends, vanity of vanities. I have often told my children the closer you are to God, the better your life will be. The farther away you are from God, the worse off your life will be. I believe the Book of Ecclesiastes backs me up as do many other scriptures in the Word of God.

Believers, you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but are you really putting him first in your life? Stop, and really think about this my friends. Your answer could be the difference in blessing or vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit. This is a time of reflection and decision, my good believing friends. What is first in your life? Is it your job, your health, your education, your family, your friends? Whatever it is, without God being first, it is vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit. We defined vanity of vanities as empty nothings. Vexation of spirit means torment, a nagging annoyance that is disturbing to you as a believer. Are all of the above noted things terrible? No, my friends!! It all depends where God is in your life. If you put God first in all these things, they become blessings and will bring fulfillment to your lives. There will be a joy unspeakable in your spirit. God put first will satisfy your every desire and need. Will bad things still confront you? Yes, my friends, they will. But, with God you will be victorious and your life will be fulfilled.

Nonbelievers, you may have accomplished many good things in man's eyes, but without God, through His son Jesus, your life will be nothing but vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit. Do you want that kind of life, my special, non-believing friends? I believe we all instinctively want to live a life that leaves a rich legacy of love and goodwill. Nonbelievers, you need God in your life to accomplish this. Accept Jesus into your heart and life today, my friends. E-mail me at brotherbob@thespiritofwisdom.org. Let me know of your desire to accept Jesus. I will help you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I promise you this. Your choice, my friends. A life of blessing and fulfillment or a life that is vanity of vanities, empty nothings, vexation of spirit and finally physical death and then the judgment; which without God, your judgment will be a second death, a spiritual death, forever and eternal separation from God and all that is good. I implore you to accept Jesus this minute. In an instant, your life can be changed and joy and praise will be the order of the day. Well? come on now. Let it go my friends. Put God first and enjoy the fruits of salvation and forgiveness of sin. I just don't know what else I can say to you, my unbelieving friends. I am offering you the free gift of eternal life with God, a true relationship with our Heavenly Father. All sin forgiven and the blessings of God operating in your life. Your choice, what will it be?

I know this is not an easy message, my good people. All of our lives in this secular world, men and women are told what their duties are: Education, career, family, obligations to community, dedication to one political party or another. Is this really all vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit? Without God, yes! God first, no! Think about what I am saying, my friends. Put God first in your life. The good King Solomon, the preacher, sums the whole matter up with his conclusion to the Book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

“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 whether it be evil.”

Can it be any more clear than that, my friends? I suggest everyone read the whole Book of Ecclesiastes. It will help you understand the difference of putting God first in your life or taking another direction. Thank God for forgiveness of sin and for his mercy and grace! This may seem like a negative message to you, but in truth it is a message of hope and salvation. It is just a choice my friends. Blessings in your life when you put God first, vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit when you do not put God first. Refer to Ecclesiastes 1:14.

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (without God)

Choose blessings, my friends. Put God first in your life and you will never have to worry about your life being empty nothings. And that, my good people, is the good news of the gospel.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Special Update (Prayer Request): We have received a correction and update on the prayer request we had posted for Shaun Bass. Shaun's full name is Thomas Shaun Morgan (not Bass as we posted). Shaun is scheduled to have a bone marrow transplant starting this week in Birmingham, AL. Shaun is also an insulin dependent diabetic since he was a year old. Shaun will be his own donor for the transplant. The doctors have harvested his stem cells and treated them for any cancer remaining. Our request is for everyone to please really pray for a successful transplant and no re-occurrence of the cancer. Please pray each day this week for Shaun. We will be waiting for a good report. God bless you, Shaun!