THE VANITIES OF LIFE

THE VANITIES OF LIFE

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in  vain, neither laboured in vain” – Philippians 2:16 (KJV)

Discipline, diligence, knowledge, people skills, service, vigilance, righteousness (integrity), wisdom and so forth are great virtues. These virtues are ingredients to success. It has been said that for a person “to succeed in life means hardwork, sacrifice, focus and disciplined lifestyle. You must be prepared to serve the society in which you live in and have a good interpersonal skill”. This advice is profound but not absolutely true. There are absolutes in life. No matter your race, colour, creed or where on earth you find yourself there are always absolute (true) principles. One of such absolutes is “all that glitters are not gold”. This proverb means that the attractive eternal appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature.

Many things in this life appear good in the eyes of majority of people. Such things are generally accepted as the standards for living. However, such so-called standards are usually not the truth. For instance, the fact that majority of the electorates of any country have voted for a particular political party may not mean that they have made a right choice. Majority is mostly wrong! No wonder many life-transformers were unpopular in their generations. Popularity does not denote properness. Similarly, hardwork, ethical values, integrity, law and order, morality, and wisdom are not necessarily good. Ask King Solomon of immeasurable wisdom. The central theme of his book of Ecclesiastes is vanity. He teaches that discovery and research, better education, greater wisdom and knowledge, hard work, greatness, pleasure, success and so forth may be vanity- foolishness or “chasing the wind”. King Solomon of old is not alone. Indeed, Apostle Paul also testified in chapter three his book to the Philippians that some things he used to be proud of were really worthless-“dung”. They include self-confidence, ritual observations, nationality, creed, race, nobility, legalistic righteousness, sincerity, and obedience to rules and regulations. “But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile now I’ve thrown them all away,” says Apostle Paul.

There is a Psalm or song that goes like this, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep”. The lesson is that builders and watchmen without depending on and trusting God build and watch in vain. Besides, hard work outside God only leads to sorrow! For King David, vain things of this life include value or desire for honours, riches, and pleasures, if they are obtained outside God. Dear reader, without Jesus you can do nothing! This means that anything you do outside Jesus is nothing (vain) in absolute terms. Get connected!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

WISDOM QUOTES OF RICHARD OBENG MENSAH -SERIES 8

WISDOM QUOTES OF RICHARD OBENG MENSAH

  SERIES 8

There must be Rule of the Lord (God), not mere Rule of Law. Rule of Law is only good if the Law is of the Lord.

I am determine to turn mine afflictions into affluence.

Real leaders are rare!

If you refuse to write any life examination today, you shall painfully write it tomorrow.

My only weakness in life, as the world sees it, is that I am dead to sin.

I am an object of praise, not pity, unto God.

The greatest crisis in life is life without Christ.

WISDOM QUOTES OF RICHARD OBENG MENSAH - SERIES 7

WISDOM QUOTES OF RICHARD OBENG MENSAH

  SERIES 7

I have obtained Degrees from the school of life. I am now pursuing my Masters.

The fact that people are not doing what you are doing does not mean they cannot do it. And the fact that people are not responding to your behaviour does not mean they are afraid of you or agree with you.

We are only to worship God, not God’s servants too.

Greediness is degrading.

A selfish person makes himself or herself a fish.

Most catalysts of greatness are not sweet to do.

I only fell. I didn’t fail. Now I have arisen and shinning forever.

Without faith in God you are only pleasing yourself.

Godly chastisement is a demonstration of love.

My future is determined by the Word of God.

The world is advanced in carnal and natural things, never in spiritual things. What a shame!

God commands us to pursue both his principles and purpose.

Until you are ready to start from zero, you will never get to one.

The grace of God does not cancel obedience to God.

Anger is not necessarily evil. It depends on what you use the anger for.

Hard work outside God is bondage and hardship.

Diligence devoid of faith in God is a gruesome deception.

God is the God of integrity.

THE CURE FOR IGNORANCE

THE CURE FOR IGNORANCE

Ignorance is slavery

Age, experience, education, status or a person’s station in life, skill training and titles do not necessarily cure ignorance. Ignorance is neither cured by academic Degrees or professional logo or insignia such BA (Hons.), MBA, MSC, LLB, BL, Dip., and PhD.  In other words, an academic, professional or theological training does not cure ignorance. It has been said that these trainings at best only affect the brain of a person, not the mind! I agree. Indeed, training of a person’s brain without more does not renew the mind of that person. Renewal of the mind produces transformation.

There are three thinking processes of every person. The thinking process of the body, spirit and soul of a person are respectively the brain, conscience and mind. Thus, whiles the brain is to the body; the mind is to the soul. Therefore, brain development is not necessarily mind development. No wonder depraved minds are commonplace even among intellectuals and professionals. A person may have a trained brain yet that person’s mind may be undeveloped. A developed mind is a renewed mind. A person wallows in gross ignorance if that person’s mind is not renewed.

Ignorance connotes darkness and confusion. It is both a curse and a disease. It goes without saying that ignorance is costly. Therefore, curing ignorance is embracing transformation and advancement. Africa has variously been described as a “Dark Continent”. Perhaps, the proponents of this view believe that most Africans are not knowledgeable and that Africans have poor attitude towards reading. It has derogatory been said that if you want to hide something from an African, put it is a book. However, real ignorance (gross darkness) is prevalent in all countries and for that matter all continents. Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 60:2 (KJV) prophesied, “For, behold, DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE…” Therefore, curing ignorance is more than mere reading. Real reading does the job! Central to real reading is reading to knowing and walking in the true light. This light drives away darkness. The light also brings illumination. Besides, the light guarantees truth and freedom. 

 

God at creation encountered darkness. Genesis 1:2-3 says, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of waters. And God said, LET THERE BE LIGHT: and there was light.” Thus God cured ignorance (darkness) at creation by causing the light to drive away darkness. The light was God’s medication for curing the then dark and void earth. Therefore, the most effectual way of curing ignorance is knowing and understanding the light. The light shines brightest in gross darkness. Therefore, our so-called Dark Continent is better placed if it causes the light to operate and shine.

True light creates good and perfect things, and gives eternal life and supernatural power. Without the true light, real creation is illusory, a mirage, and unattainable. The true light also manifests eternal and supernatural favour and glory. The true light is God’s Word-Jesus! John 1:4-5 says, “IN HIM (JESUS) WAS LIFE; AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (Every emphasis is mine). Real ignorance is existing around or outside Jesus-thus not living in Him. You are either covered by (living in) gross darkness or Jesus, nothing more; nothing less. The beginning of living in Jesus is to believe and receive Him as your Saviour and Lord. Please cure your gross ignorance now!!

Richard Obeng Mensah, co-author of 37 Benefits of Reading. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

CELEBRATING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

CELEBRATING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; THY COUNSELS OF OLD ARE FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH” – Isaiah 25:1 (KJV) (Emphasis is mine)

M y greatest lesson in life is that God is faithful.

He has faithfully brought me into the City of Zion.

God has endorsed and approved of mine Heavenly citizenship.

He has beautified and decorated me.

God has led me into mine high places.

My enemies are now under mine authority.

His Spirit has become my eternal Advocate.

I have been exalted above my peers.

God’s favour and glory have risen upon me.

He has fulfilled His precious promises to me.

God has always been faithful to me even in my unfaithfulness.

O LORD, THY COUNSELS OF OLD ARE FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH

Richard Obeng Mensah,

February 2, 2012.