Living for vanity

Green Pastures By Pastor T. O. Banso

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So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matt 6:31-33 NLT)
Is the Kingdom of God your primary concern or your secondary concern? Or maybe it is not even your concern at all.
There are many who are living their own lives. They're living without any thought of God and without time for God. They are living for vanity - money, beauty, fashion, ambition, career, fame, entertainment etc. These things are transient. 1 John 2:17 warns, "And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever."(NLT)
When you're old and waiting for death, will you be happy how you've lived your life? Will you be ashamed of yourself or be proud you've lived a God-centred life? Are you living a life that will qualify you for the rapture if it takes place now?
Reflect on your life today, repent and begin to live for God; stop living for self or the devil. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Gal 6:8 KJV)
Why lose your soul?
Jesus' warning in Mk 8:36-38 is very instructive if you are going to live for God: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (NKJV)
You may be a Christian, even a pastor, or may be a non-Christian, be sure you're not living for vanity; be sure you're living for God. On that Day of Judgment, many people will be so ashamed of what they had lived for. "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day, many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized." (Matt 7:21-23 NLT)
The rich young ruler
Mark 10:17-22 tells us the story of the rich young ruler. Here is the sad story: "Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?' So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' And he answered and said to Him, 'Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.' Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (NKJV)
The rich young ruler lived for his wealth. He loved his money more than God and he missed a good opportunity to become a disciple of Jesus and missed eternal life. He couldn't do what Jesus told him to do - go sell all that he had, give the money to the poor so as to have treasure in heaven, and then come to take up his cross and follow Jesus. (Mk 10:17-22) But he couldn't deny himself to do this. "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mk 8:34 NKJV)
The end time
This is the end time, and the Bible tells us what will be the lifestyle of the end time. "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly." (Lk 21:34 NKJV) We are already in the end-time when the Bible says many shall be living as enemies of the cross of Christ. Those who live like this have destruction waiting for them "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things." (Phil 3:18-19 NKJV) Are you an enemy of the cross of Christ or a friend of Christ? Are you living for God?
The time is short
Do you know that God's purpose for your life was determined in eternity past but you don't have eternity to fulfill it? There is a time fixed for every purpose and matter. Indeed, the time is short. Jesus lived for thirty-three years but had only about three years to fulfill his destiny. The discovery of God's purpose for your life and living for it in your generation is what will define you. That will be the summary of your life. Are you living for vanity or for God?
Maybe you're even an atheist. You don't believe in God so to you it's useless living for Him. God's servant, Reinhard Bonnke said, "Atheism is intellectual vandalism." I cannot agree less. The Bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good." (Ps 53:1 NKJV) My advice to every atheist is: don't be a fool.
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus and begin to live for God by living in obedience to His Word. You also need to prayerfully find out God's plan for your life and begin to live for it. "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Eccl 12:13 -14 NLT)
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God"
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.