All is Vanity

“There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every affair under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die…” Poetic. The meaning is that things are going to happen when they are going to happen. Perhaps the best lesson we can take away from Ecclesiastes is that you don’t know what you have till it’s gone. You won’t appreciate the “after” if you don’t remember the “before.” In this respect, we are talking about how it was before Jesus Christ. Then was darkness, confusion, misery, disorder, etc., where Jesus brought us out of the darkness and into the light, teaching us how to live and explaining the reason for living. Before Jesus, God graced Solomon to be the wisest man in the world. Solomon’s treatise dealing with life as vanity, found in Ecclesiastes, provides an abundant source of logical references about life and living. Despite our resistance to the facts, the subjects of life and living are always timely, but especially now in our frantic, accelerated pursuit for the toys of our times, making them gods. “Where your heart is there will your treasure also be.” Ecclesiastes (Old Testament), though comprised of 12 chapters, is only about eight pages, and holds much meaning for everyone and every age, time immemorial. If you ever opened an encyclopedia to search on a subject and found yourself unintentionally perusing related or other subjects, you can expect similar to occur when you open up to Ecclesiastes. In fact, may I recommend that you read Ecclesiastes in a moment of quiet and solitude? Doing so will have your mind comparing then, B.C., with A.D., and now, in this 21st century called the “modern era.” A time easily described by the word “folly.” So much of what you read will make you think outside of your normal routine. Many, because of how times and human practices can change the mentality of individuals, mostly for personal preference, may even think some of Solomon’s writings strange, incomprehensible. For those who maintain their sensibilities about themselves, in essence, you should find yourself agreeing and thinking how logical and sensible Solomon’s findings, conclusions and discernments about everything being “vanity of vanities” are. For your best reading, your Bible should contain footnotes that refer, compare or explain. Also, try to make your Bible the oldest you can have. (This will keep the number of modern writers’ interpretations to a minimum, in their attempt to update today’s Bibles.) If need be, it would be helpful to you to understand the different shades of meaning for the word “vanity.” You would do well by opening up your very best dictionary and look it up. You should discover more than a simple definition, quite a few in fact. With a good grasp on the word, you should reasonably be able to keep up with Solomon’s treatment of the subject. Read how he says vanity applies to man and the world. Learn. Enjoy! Thanks for visiting. -- Bob II Tim 4:2

Don't Fight Problems Alone

There is a Light at the end of this earthly road, a Light that beckons you every day that you live and breathe. If you are like most people, you pay scant attention to this Light – that is, until you experience weakness in sickness, or have found yourself with a problem or many problems that you find wearing you down. You do not need to fight problems alone. You may not realize, or do not want to admit, that your peace of mind and heart are disturbed by the choices you make. With God far from your thoughts, you have chosen to face your problems without Him. He wants you to lean on Him, but you do not give Him any thought. Do you not know that without God, your Father in heaven, you can do nothing? Has anyone not told you that your body is God’s temple? He lives in you. You can ignore Him, and He still lives in you. He is the Light of the world. We are to reflect His light; that is our mission. Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” About six hundred or so years ago, Thomas a’ Kempis, of The Imitation of Christ, reminds us that “Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living.” Do you grasp that the preceding words describe for us the picture of life itself? Read these words repeatedly until you come to understand. It should be important to all who live and breathe so they will understand that you are not alone. God the Father made us, but Jesus, His Beloved-Son, also our Brother, is our Friend. Such is their Nature of Love. How you live your life determines whether He remains in you or not. You can make your light shine before men; you can make the most of the Best He has to offer by giving Him some of your time. Speak with Him, grow in Him, tell Him what you want Him to do for you. You will not surprise Him because He knows and sees all – all of the time. This may be your first step in praying (in your own words) to your Creator, and the Creator of all that is seen and unseen. He loves you unconditionally, you are His, whether you acknowledge that fact or not. On the other hand, you may be one that prays, “Savior, I’ve no one else to tell and so I trouble thee, I am the one that forgot thee so, do you remember me?” (Emily Dickinson) Come to Him in the sanctuary of your heart; talk with Him as His child that you are, and as a child talks with his attentive, listening parent. The Light of the world will never be too busy and is always there for you, even to the end of the road of life. Now you know why I say, you do not need to fight problems alone, nor walk the road of life alone. Turn to Him right now. He will delight in hearing from you, His son or daughter. Thanks for visiting. - Bob Philippians 1:3