1 Corinthians 15:19: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

In a simple definition, vanity, usually in the scripture refers not to foolish pride, but to the emptiness in the final result of all life endeavours apart from God. Vanity is vanity; yes, it is to be born, toil, suffer and experience some transitional joy, which is nothing in view of eternity, to live it all and to die without salvation. Man under the sun might from his own experience mistakenly think that the earth would continue indefinitely as it is now, but it will not because one day, this planet earth will perish.

It is rather unfortunate that many people are so much engrossed in the pursuit of earthly possessions that has no eternal value that they forget they have a creator who made them. It must be noted that whatsoever any man acquired on this earth will one day perish. The emptiness of the earthly possessions made the Bible refer to them as vanity as King Solomon puts it in Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 saying: “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? 4: One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.”

Yes, earthly possessions notwithstanding how they are priced physically have no eternal value, as the fashion of this world passes away like blowing wind. In my days of growing up, there were latest cars in vogue then, but today nobody rides them because they are out of fashion andtoo old to function for use. The same thing applies to all other earthly materials. One should not place his or her trust in them and forget that one day, one will be forced by death to leave this earth.

Once anyone dies, he is translated at the other side naked. For we brought nothing in this world and we will take nothing away. Although, we are seeking for God’s blessings, it should not be at the expense of our soul, which has eternal value. We all came into this earth naked and one day, we shall leave it naked.

The architectural design of houses keep on changing from time to time, old and out of fashioned ones are pulled down and modern one built in their place, but the word of God remains the way it was preached thousands of years back. As a matter of emphasis the great King Solomon still maintains in Ecclesiastes 2:4-7,11: “I said of laughter, it is mad: and of mirth, what doeth it? 3: I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4: I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards. 5: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits. 6: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees. 7: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me. 11: Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”

King Solomon had wealth, he was the wisest man of his generation, long life was not denied from him, yet he concluded that all is vanity because everything has perished. The magnificent buildings are no longer there because they had no eternal value.

The Bible presents Job as the richest man in the east; on that premise, if you call him a millionaire you are not mistaken, if he is referred to as a billionaire the person is not wrong, but everything he laboured for and acquired perished in one day because those things had no eternal value. The man himself said in Job 1:21-22: “And said, naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” The man understood the emptiness of earthly possessions, but was interested in meeting with his maker. He maintained his relationship with God for the preservation of his soul for everlasting life; hence he ensured he did not sin against God.

In this present world many who would see himself in Job’s predicament would have committed suicide and exposed the soul of the danger of going to hell, but Job did not do that because he understood that the wealth of this earth is vanity. What would be any man’s profit by gaining the perishable wealth of this earth at the expense of his soul. Your soul is the most expensive thing you have because that is what links you to the spirit of God and by maintaining that relationship you go back to the maker at the end of your life on earth. Our focus in life should be more on the preservation of our souls for everlasting life than labouring for the material things of this earth that will perish here and go back to the ground.

Apostle Paul writing to his spiritual son in 1Timothy 6:7 told him: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” We are leaving the world with none of its glorious possessions. It is only our soul that will be separated from the body to go and meet the Maker if it meets the requirements. The soul has futuristic existence with the Lord Jesus Christ after the rapture of the saints. We should work for the future of the soul, which has eternal value. The soul will not die.

When it is separated from the body it will go somewhere and wait for the rapture of the saints. If the owner of the soul died in Christ, the soul will rise to meet Christ in the air when the trumpet will sound. If it did not, it will wait for the second resurrection, which is into death.

This second resurrection will lead the participants into hell. While you live on earth, work to avoid being part of this second resurrection. It is unfortunate many people are more interested in the wealth of this world, instead of working for the preservation of their souls for future existence with the Lord. If you are in the category of the people who value earthly possessions and their glory above their soul you need to reconsider your position now, renounce that mindset and accept our Lord Jesus Christ now and begin the preparation of meeting Him at the rapture of the saints. The glory of your soul will shine with the Lord and you will be comfortable with Him forever in Jesus’ name, Amen!