Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher.
"Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God's guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind]."—Ecclesiastes 1:2
4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10; ESV)
The readings in Ecclesiastes and in 2 Corinthians this morning could cause much discouragement. Upon examination though they are cause for rejoicing. God has put eternity in our hearts. Life in this fallen world is not meant to be comfortable or enjoyable. It is meant to bring us to the One who gives all of it meaning...to the One who freely gave His life to save us from the bondage of sin and death. We can praise God when things are hard and pray they cause our hearts to cling more to Jesus. In Christ nothing is in vain and nothing is lost. All that comes our way goes through the hand of our God who is for us and gives all that we face purpose and meaning both temporally and eternally.
Knowing Jesus enabled Paul and enables me to endure hardships and trials. Instead of allowing people and circumstances to control me, I can trust God by taking hold of His promises. I can see my difficulties as opportunities to reflect what my heart believes, and demonstrate my faith to a lost and dying world that needs Jesus. I can make my Valley of Baca here a spring by surrendering all things that come my way to God and allowing His purposes to reign.
Beloved, tried faith is precious faith. (1 Peter 1:7). Our circumstances do not have to define us. By His Spirit, then, may they refine us. May they draw us nearer to God, who is our refuge and our strength...our very present help in times of trouble. Be still (literally hands-off) and know that He is God. He will be exalted in the nations...He will be exalted in the earth AND He will be exalted in our hearts and in our lives as well.
But, beloved, even though we speak to you in this way, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and of things that accompany salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God's people), as you do. 11 And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises.—Hebrews 6:9-12 AMP
