Gold Metals and Vanity

No one can deny that Michael Phelps dedication and hard work has absolutely paid off in the last two Olympics. Michael has established himself as the Olympics greatest athlete of all time winning 22 metals, 18 of those gold! That is quite an accomplishment to top in one's brief existence here in time but the question at hand here is, do gold metals and men's great achievements have any ETERNAL merit and weight to them (Psalm 39:5, 1 Peter 1:7, 18-19, 1 John 2:16-17)? No offence to Michael on this thought or any others but while everyone throughout the world is paying attention, why not take the time and make people consider and think it through; for this little vapor called time is less than a drop of water in the ETERNAL bucket of FOREVER (Rom. 10:2-4, John 3:36, 1 John 16-17).  Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Jim Thorpe, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente, Jesse Owens etc, etc, have had their brief moment in the sun, greatly achieved and now are dead and gone FOREVER. If these could speak now from their ETERNAL habitation, what would their message be in light of all of their great achievements and fame?

That is quite an accomplishment to top in one's brief existence here in time but the question at hand here is, do gold metals and man's great achievements have any ETERNAL weight to them.

The Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes is the tragic biography of Adam’s fallen race (i.e., humanity) told by the wisest of all men, King Solomon. King Solomon possessed it all: wisdom, brilliance, discernment, authority, prestige, riches/ wealth, property/ possessions, power, fame, women and glory. Amazingly, as he was reflecting on his life in his last days, he made this very sobering and tragic statement: “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:1-15, 12:7-8).
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In possessing all of this stature and achievement, it never satisfied the ETERNAL void of his heart. All of it did not - and could not - yield peace and contentment. In the end, all of Solomon's great achievements and pomp could never deliver him in the hour of his death. To Solomon, all indeed was truly dust in the wind...

Dust in the Wind, the title of a song released by the group Kansas in the late 1970’s, is a melancholy piece regarding the terrible uncertainties and brevity of earthly existence. There is no certainty, no hope, no expectation, no solution and no deliverance. The song is painted with pessimistic colors and presents a bleak and tragic picture with absolute abandonment and no salvation to be found. All we are is dust in the wind… without the Savior of the world
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All we are is dust in the wind... without the Savior of the world.

What the majority of humanity (and the song) greatly misses is that WITHOUT Almighty God, our Creator and Sustainer and His righteousness, all is indeed an absolute tragedy, vanity and dust in the wind (Psalm 39:5). My friend, that was NEVER Almighty God’s plan and purpose for His creation (Rom. 5:12-21). It is Almighty God’s sincerest desire that all would come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ and have ETERNAL Life. The Bible states:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17)

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…?" (Ezekiel 33:11)

"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost" (Matt 18:11)

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30)

Jesus said, "The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10)

Your existence here in time does not have to end in vanity. Almighty God has a great future plan and purpose for your life.
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But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. 2:9)

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25)

"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 22:5)

Without Almighty God’s remedy for our sinful condition which is found only in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ, indeed all is truly vanity and dust in the wind.
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"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? " (Matt 16:26)

"Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah" (Psalm 39:5).

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:11-15).

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In the end, Solomon fully comprehended that Almighty God was absolutely essential for the existence of man. To know Him is life ETERNAL with great expectation and purpose!

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13,14)

Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? To know Him is to have ETERNAL Life and possess ETERNAL Hope. May it be your sincere desire to know the One that made it all possible for you to have all of God’s highest and best for your life - both here in time and also for ETERNITY.

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.

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