“All is Vanity”

By Jeff Curtis

When Solomon wrote that “all is vanity,” he was describing a condition of life without substance of essence. He said nothing has lasting value. This is a really bleak view of life. Is there nothing that we have or do that is meaningful? The point Solomon is making teaches us two truths.

Much in this world is of no value. Our priorities can get out of balance. We major in minors. We “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24). How hard is it for men to discover what is really important. Lifetimes have been spent in building empires, amassing great piles of money and receiving the praise of men. “Vanity!” Solomon replied, in effect. “It is all vanity!” Why? Is all that hard work not worth something? Does the accumulate wealth not count for as a testimony for one’s greatness? “No,” said the Preacher. These are merely examples of misplaced priorities.

Only God can define and determine what is valuable. We need to remember that God sees the eternal. He knows that the earthly priorities can often distract us from the eternal. He knows that wealth (Luke 12:13-21), family (Matthew 10:37), or lust and pride (1John 2:15-17) can keep us from salvation.

We are unable to distinguish between the valuable and vain without divine guidance. What did God declare to be valuable? The ending of Ecclesiastes tells us: “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV). Out of all that a person can do in this life, fearing God and keeping His commandments are the principle of existence.

Nobody wants to feel like a failure. So, it is crucial for each of us to prioritize our lives, our loves, and our interests. We have to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). If we don’t do this, then Solomon’s summary will be correct. Our lives will be “vanity.” If we put God first, however, our lives can be summarized with these words; “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Defeated by Sin

By Jeff Curtis

Along with the good news that Christians can overcome sin, the apostle John suggested that there is some bad news regarding sin. If we aren’t diligent, we can be defeated by sin. John implied that it is possible to lose the battle to sin and Satan. John spoke of “a sin leading to death” in 1John 5:16-17.

What is “A Sin Leading to Death?” What is “a sin leading to death?” John already said that “if we walk in the Light… the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1John 1:7) and that “if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Consequently, “a sin leading to death” (1John 5:16) can’t be any sin which we are willing to repent of and confess.

So, what is it then? It must be a specific sin (such as murder, adultery, or lying), but a state of the heart or mind that keeps a person from being willing or able to repent and confess their sins. Most likely it can be compared with what is described in other places in the New Testament as a hardened heart (Hebrews 3:12-13) or a seared conscience (1Timothy 4:2). An apostate condition can make it impossible for one to be renewed “again to repentance” (Hebrews 6:4-6). When a Christian falls away to that extent, he has sinned unto death – that is, he is doomed to eternal death in hell (unless he changes his attitude and repents).

Can a Christian Commit this Sin? We need to realize that a Christian can actually reach such a state. We can find ourselves in the condition of having a hardened heart and a seared conscience. What do they do, they have not overcome sin, but instead, have allowed sin to overcome them.

For the Christian, therefore, victory over sin is not inevitable. Unless, he is diligent in holding to the truth, obeying God’s commands, walking in the Light, and showing love to his brethren, he could fall away and find himself in the position of one who has committed “a sin leading to death.”

Maybe we could liken this process by which a person reaches such a point to when someone who decides to ride a bicycle down a hill. At first, the downward slope is easy, gentle, it wouldn’t be a problem to turn back at any time. Then, gradually, the slope becomes faster and faster. It becomes more difficult to stop and turn around. They realize that this is a dangerous downward slope and determine to turn around and go back up the hill for safety. Only to discover that when they try to turn around, they’re going too fast to stop and that it’s impossible to turn around. Even against their will, they continue to go downhill with the speed ever increasing until they fall to their doom.

Similarly, when we start sinning habitually, it may seem at first that it would be easy to stop. We sometimes hear people say, “I can quit anytime I want.” However, sin is addictive. The more one sins, the more they may desire to sin. They find themselves sinning more often, travelling downhill faster and faster. It may be at this point they will say, “This is too dangerous, I need to turn around.” But when they try, they discover they can’t. Their conscience is seared, their heart is hardened, and they find that it’s impossible to repent. They have sinned “a sin leading to death.” They have nor conquered sin; they have been conquered by sin.

Are you concerned that you may have sinned “a sin leading to death?” If you are concerned, then you have not sinned such a sin. You still need to repent and turn around while you can. Or else the road to hell will get steeper, the longer you delay, the harder it will be to repent. Make the changes you need to make today.

Meditate on this:

Psalm 98:1

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.