Life is vanity upon vanity

Vanity upon Vanity, saith the preacher. As the world goeth from bad to worse, not only from bad to worse in its social condition, but from bad to worse in its very nature. Its everyday life used to be simply a scene of wild debauchery; it is now a scene of wild despair. Its business was once mainly a business of gambling, for any one could gamble on credit; it is now mainly a business of stock-dodging, for any one can dodge payments on bills.

As the world has lost its credit and religion, it has reached its present state. It is all vanity upon vanity (Psalm 39:5) for there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

I had a call from a brother today, who has just lost his brother. He is sad and very confused. I do not know the details, but he was on the phone feeling sorry for himself. I can totally relate to sadness and grief. But that is exactly what it is. Feeling sorry for yourself thinking how hard it is on you. Yes it is hard, but for this brother that has died more than it is hard for him right now.

It has become easy for him. He's in a better place and suffering no more. Vanity upon vanity all is vanity and a striving after wind. What profit has not a man with all his labor which he has labored under the sun? One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun also rises and the sun goes down. And hastening to the place where I wanted to go, by that time my sorrow was turned into joy, for now my grief is gone, my bitter grief.

The darkness is past and the light is come, and now my heart is filled with joy. I will praise you O Lord in the assembly of your people and I will sing to you among the nations.