SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1237

“Present Vanities”

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 11:3

Charles Spurgeon wrote: ‘Let him suffer no foolish attachment to present vanities to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honor of union with Christ.’

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” – Psalm 27:8

Our heart desires to seek the face of the Lord, to abide and rest in His presence. We get quiet before the Lord with our Bible and then, like a popcorn popper, our mind is bombarded with the thoughts and cares of this world – present vanities – and we are distracted from communion with Jesus.

We … take every thought captive to obey Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:5

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with … cares of this life …. – Luke 21:34

This happens to all of us. We can overcome these present vanity distractions by persevering in prayer, pressing through into the presence of God. Ask the Father to place a hedge of protection around you and to sanctify that place and time of prayer for His glory.

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. … Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Psalm 119:37; Colossians 3:2

Then the day begins, and we venture out into the world to work, school, play, travel, whatever occupies our daily lives. Are we walking with the Lord throughout our daily lives bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God or have the cares of the world, the present vanities, choked Him out of our heart and mind?

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Matthew 13:22

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money – Matthew 6:24

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. – Galatians 5:16-17

Martha was busy doing ‘good things.’ But sometimes good things become present vanities and get in the way of what is best in our relationship with Jesus.

… But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42

We cannot escape the present vanities that are part and parcel to our lives in this world. We can, however, keep ourselves from becoming foolishly attached to them to the point that they hinder our walk with the Lord.

May every facet of your lives, from thoughts through to action, be a testimony of your steadfast, sincere, and pure devotion to Jesus.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2