The Vanity of Sinners

The 11^th Sunday after Pentecost–August 4, 2013

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26

“…Behold, all is vanity…” Vs. 14

     The Preacher delivers a truth that is hard to hear:  All is vanity and a striving after wind.  Take note of this declaration’s inclusiveness:  ALL is vanity… all, everything, each and every one, the total, complete, the sum, and the whole… ALL THINGS…  The Preacher has seen everything… all things done under the sun, and it’s all vanity.  This is a hard to hear truth.  “Surely,” you might exclaim, “there is something worthwhile.  Something must escape the conceit and pretension of vanity?  I do good works, don’t I?”  But the Preacher is unrelenting:  all… all…

This is not merely an Old Testament phenomenon; remember what the Apostle Paul preaches regarding this sort of inclusiveness:  “All have sinned…” (Romans 3:23).   “Scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin…” (Gal. 3:22).   Jesus, too, lays it on the line when it comes to the works of the human heart:  “For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false online casino testimony, slander.” (Mt. 15:19)  Paul even anticipates your protests that there must be something of yourself that is not vanity, conceit, or pretention:  “For if anyone thinks he is something when On the one hand, the horoscope leo Sun is uncompromising, jealous of its uniqueness and keen on its humane subjectivity, no matter how imperfect it may be. he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Gal. 6:3)

Thanks be to God that you have a preacher who delivers Christ and him crucified!  You receive the fulfillment of Suomalaiset casinot TalletusbonuksetLuotettavat kasinotVerkkopankkitalletuksetNet Ent -pelivalmistajaVerovapaat nettikasinotMicroGaming -pelivalmistajaKaikki saitin artikkelit© 2014 Online Casinot. Jesus’ promise:  “And I, when I am lifted up, will draw all things to myself.” (Jn. 12:32)  All the vanity, conceit, and pretention of those—you included—who think they are something but are really nothing, will be drawn into the one “something” who is Jesus Christ.  “…Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11)  Jesus pleases God and he receives wisdom and knowledge and joy.  Drawn to and held in Christ, you enjoy these gifts, too.  Now that’s a truth which is good to hear!

Table Talk:  Why is it so hard to hear that we are sinners?

Pray:  Heavenly Father, grant that we would know all things only through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

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