vain

It Is Not A Vain Thing

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.  And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: and he said unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.  For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 32:44-47

For some the reading, and study of the Scriptures (our Holy Bible) is a worthless, senseless waste of time. Some may feel; even though they profess to be a Christian; that they do not need to read and study God’s word. That seems kind of odd to me since the Bible is the largest selling book in the world.

What has this got to do with what Moses has written, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with the Christian of today?

First of all we need to know that Moses gave these words shortly before his death. Even though he had led the people of Israel for forty years through the wilderness, with great signs and wonders; he was not allowed to enter the land of  Promise, because of his actions at the waters from the rock of Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51).

Secondly, Moses knew the people needed the words of the LORD in order to be faithful. They needed to know, and be reminded of the blessings of obedience, and the curses of disobedience.

So does the Christian need to know the word of God. So it is never a waste of time. It is never a vain thing. It is never a useless, worthless or empty thing to read, study, and know the word of God.

How will we, how can we stand before others, and tell others what makes a difference in our lives when they ask, if we do not know His word? How can we stand in a court of people, kings, and nations to defend our faith, and stand in the face of persecution? If we do not know the Lord’s words. Jesus said, “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you”  Matthew 10:18-20. How does that happen without the presence of the word of God being already in our hearts, and coming to our minds – the Holy Spirit, of course, in what we have already put within.

So never feel like the reading and study of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are a waste of your time. It is a necessity for life, faith, and increasing your fruitfulness.

We will hide His word in our hearts that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

If you want to know the One true God, there is only one way, and that is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you call on His name today?

The Vanity of Worldly Wisdom

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Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”  And again, “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Know the LORD

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“And they shall know that I am the LORD, that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.” Ezekiel 6:10 (KJB)

The phrase “…Shall know that I am the LORD” is used three other times in this chapter (vv. 6, 13, 14), and it is used at least 59 other times throughout the prophecy of Ezekiel. In chapter 6 it is directed toward the nation of Israel, and they are being reminded of why they are in captivity.

God will have His people know that He is the LORD.  That should be a reminder to all people of all days, times, ages, that GOD will do whatever it takes to make His people holy; because He is holy.

In many of the other 59 times the phrase is used it is toward the nations around them.  The LORD desires that people of all lands know that He is the LORD.

To know that He is the LORD is to know Him personally.  Know Him as our Creator, the All Powerful, All Knowing, All Present, and Immutable [Unchanging]  God; also to know Him as Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and King. To know Him is to see Him revealed in the person of His Son Jesus Christ who took all of our sin upon Himself upon the cross, bled and died, was buried, and He rose from death, conquering death, hell, and the grave; and He forever lives as our Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

Turn to Jesus Christ from sin, and know that the LORD, He is the LORD.

The Foundation of God

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Building on anything other than God’s foundation will lead to disaster; the fall of the building, and the fall of a life as well (Matthew 7:21-27).  The Church, neither the individual Christian life can survive without being founded and set sure upon the foundation of God.  Hear the apostle Paul…

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:15-19 (KJV)

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…” is the reading of the NKJV in the first part of 2 Timothy 2:15.  Study is one of the first ways of being diligent to show yourself approved unto God.  Without knowledge of God’s Word you cannot stand and defend the word of God against error.  We must certainly continue in preaching, and teaching the Scriptures, lifting up Christ and His cross.

Paul uses a couple of men who must have been notorious for their twisting of Scripture, leading to ungodliness.  It has been said, “It does make a difference what you believe”.  What you believe will affect the way you live.  Either to godliness or unto ungodliness.  The apostle says that the teachings of Hymenaeus and Philetus were like a canker/cancer.  Cancer works unseen, and kills and destroys whatever it touches.  So too does profane and vain babblings which are teachings of ungodliness.  These men were even “…saying that the resurrection is past already” meaning the resurrection of the living and the dead; a possible reference of the rapture of the Church being already past.

The foundation of God is where the child of God, and the preacher of God will stand.  God’s foundation is unmoveable, unstoppable, and unchanging.  When all other foundations are shaking and trembling, God’s foundation stands true and strong.  It begins by placing your faith in God’s gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ; the One who gave His life on the cross, was buried, and was raised to life and forever lives with the Father in glory.

Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.