SURVIVAL

SURVIVAL

Monday, March 09, 2015

  Two of my favorite thought-provoking TV shows with the same theme are the horrific THE WALKING DEAD and comedic THE LAST MAN ON EARTH.

  Then there is another on the topic commentary from 3,000 years ago. I share a few relatable excerpts:

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher [Solomon], vanity of vanities; all is vanity. … I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26  I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. … 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. … Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. … Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. … And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

… For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. … For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. … For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

4:4, 7-8, 16  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. … Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

… There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. … There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

6:2, 4, 9, 11  A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. … For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. … Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. … Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

7:6, 15  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. … All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

8:10, 14 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. … There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

11:8, 10 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. … Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

  Or as stated WUMO by Wulff & Morgenthaler in Sunday comics “At age 88, it occurred to Josh that he’d read all the comic books, played all the computer games and seen all the TV shows and all the movies, but was yet to actually have a life.”

  Jehovah God Almighty, He our Creator, knows of our exasperation, and provides victorious living. His Son explained “Don't be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. ... Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” (GW Jn.14)

  Trust Him and live above and beyond plodding survival.  EBB4