Sunday Morning Podcast September 7, 2014. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT
Psalms 19:1,14
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
I Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Revelations 21:23 For the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Glory is the word to remember here. The heavens etc., are the testimony of God’s glory. God desires to transfer His glory to us, so that we might reveal God to those around us, so that we can be a testimony for Him. Our life is not meant to satisfy self, but to manifest God’s glory, to those without Him. There are two notions in the world; The vanity of life, …and the glory of God. Or, the vanity of human nature, and the glory of the divine nature. The purpose of the divine nature, is to be an antidote for the hopelessness of vanity. Psalms 39:5 tells us; Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreath; and my age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. This is the human nature/condition. Human nature is not eliminated when becoming a child of God. And none are made divine, simply because of Christ coming into their life.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 13-15 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things are done under heaven: this sore travil hath God given to the to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. All that God has made, has it’s place, is full of labor, but nonetheless of vanity (verse 13). That might seem negative, but that is accurately describing a life without God. Life is but “a vapor.” (James 4:14). Life is foolish if based only in self. For the temporal passes away, is confusing, troubling, seeking for meaning, and “grasping for air.”
Although our nature is vanity, we can have the antidote, which is the glory of the divine. Still our mere humanity will be vain, but we can also have the glory of God …which is not vain. We also need to remember that we don’t lose the effects of vanity when we become God’s children, but we possess now also the glory of His divinity. It is the state of man without God, …that is only vanity, and not worth living for. It is God’s glory that adds meaning. Ecclesiastes gives the answer or antidote, to have the glory of God, which is His divine intervention for our lives; “Fear God, and obey His commandments, this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
We must choose to draw ourselves away from vanity, …for God to draw us to Himself. This is key to solving the problems in the vanities of life. It will take courage and faith to keep pressing on towards God’s glory while living in the midst of this world. Let God’s glory be a reflection through your actions, speech, attitude, etc. On the other hand, don’t be condemned when vanity affects you, while you are endeavoring to press on to all the glory God would impart you with. Always in all things give glory to God! Making your best effort, is glory to Him! Your effort is so others might find Salvation in your living testimony.
Godly fear and obedience to His commandments, (His glory), is the antidote to the vanity of life!