Vanity

Prophecy and Origins of Vanity

In today's world men have become very vain. In fact, this is a fulfillment of prophecy for the Apostle Paul stated in 2 Timothy 3:1-2 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy"

Vanity has its origins in the mind of Satan Ezekiel 28:13-17 "Thou [Satan] hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."

"Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." Satan became vain, he looked upon his beautiful countenance with pride, he esteemed himself more highly than his brethren - the angels, and even above God Himself. Satan allowed self-worship to take the place of the worship and praise that was due to his Creator. This satanic character trait the enemy seeks to imprint on humanity, for he knows that all who follow his vain example will be shut out from heaven like him.

Satan's Deception and Self-Exaltation

Satan told Eve, Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This self-exaltation and desire to seek praise whether that be for our looks or for our works goes directly against the very first commandment of God's law. Exodus 20:2-3 "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Satan made himself a god in his own imagination. Isaiah 14:12-14 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

These thoughts were vain thoughts. Notice how many times Satan says, "I will" in this passage, with the devil it is all about "me,me,me!" "Shav," which is the Hebrew word for vanity (Strongs #H7723) can also mean emptiness, falsehood, nothingness. When we read Satan's words in Isaiah chapter 14 we can see the emptiness or the uselessness of his character, how does this way of thinking benefit anyone in anyway?  The thought of the enemy was "Are not my garments light and beautiful, why should Christ be honored before me?" What good is one bringing into the world when they draw people's attention to themselves rather than God? When they seek honour for themselves as opposed to benefiting those around them?

Biblical Examples of Vanity

Now let's look at some individuals in the Bible who were overcome by vanity. Absalom, the wicked son of David was vain 2 Samuel 14:25-26 "But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight."

Jezebel the wicked Queen of Israel who killed the prophets of the Lord was vain 2 Kings 9:30 "And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window." "she painted her face", doesn't this sound very similar to modern-day cosmetics? This practice is so common, especially among ladies applying 'make-up' to the face to improve the appearance.

As stated previously in this study, vanity will keep an individual out of heaven Psalm 24:3-4 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

The Lord knows that the carnal heart, unrenewed by the Spirit of God is vain Psalm 94:11 "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." Paul admonished the Ephesian Christians in Ephesians 4:17 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind" As Christians we are not to do as the heathen who walk "in the vanity of their mind." Our thoughts are to be centered on Christ and heaven and not on self.

Modern Vanity and Social Media

In today's generation social media, from TikTok to Instagram has encouraged a mindset wherein anyone can now become their own mini celebrity, where likes and the praises of others in the comment section tempt the individual to be filled with pride. The fact that more and more people are getting plastic surgery is a testament to this fact, as well as fake hair, make-up, fake nails, and for the guys, steroids. Whilst there is no sin in looking at oneself in the mirror to see if they are presentable, what we must be careful of is admiring ourselves. Do we find ourselves spending too much time looking at ourselves in the mirror? Taking countless selfies and then reviewing them and asking others if those pictures are cute enough? If we look beautiful or handsome enough?

It says in Proverbs 31:30 "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Our thoughts should not be centered on self. "What does so and so think of me?" "Do I look pretty?" or for the guys, "Do my muscles look big enough?" All these are vain thoughts, it is not in line with the character of Christ.  We should utter as did the Psalmist in Psalm 119:37 "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way."

God's Perspective on Appearance

Does God care about our outward appearance? 1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." God cares more about our character than our looks. The world on the other hand places much stock in a person's looks. A pretty face will not be allowed into heaven if it is not accompanied by a righteous and humble character.

The Apostle Peter admonishes us in 1 Peter 3:3-4 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

When Christ came to earth did He choose to be a very beautiful individual in terms of appearance? Isaiah 53:2 "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Christ purposely did not come with outward beauty. He was to draw people unto Himself by His beautiful character and the truths He taught that glorified His Father.

Vanity tempts to pride and that sin in turn can lead us into believing that we are okay in God's eyes when in fact His displeasure is upon us just as Israel of old allowed pride and vanity to believe that God was with them even though they were transgressing His commandments. This is why pride which goes together with vanity is such a dangerous sin because it can make it very hard for an individual to examine themselves and see their own shortcomings.

Psalm 29:2 "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Psalm 96:9 "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." Holiness is counted as beauty in the eyes of God. One cannot be holy and vain at the same time, for pride and vanity are character traits of Satan.

A prominent Bible commentator had this to say to Christians who "spend hours that are worse than thrown away, in studying this or that fashion to decorate the poor, mortal body. While you make yourselves appear like the world, and as beautiful as you can, remember that the same body may in a few days be food for worms. And while you adorn it to your taste, to please the eye, you are dying spiritually. God hates your vain, wicked pride, and He looks upon you as a whited sepulcher, full of corruption and uncleanness within."

Focusing on Christ's Glory

If you are tempted to admire yourself for your looks instead think about how beautiful Jesus is in all His glory, In Daniel chapter 10 we read what happened to the prophet when he saw Christ in all His glory Daniel 10:5-8 "Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength."

Daniel's comeliness "was turned into corruption" and "he retained no strength" at the sight of Christ in all His glory. No human on the planet can compare to Christ in His glorified form in terms of physical beauty, we are all as an unclean thing when compared to Him.

Conclusion: Glorifying Christ

At the end of the day as Christians our one main desire should be to see Christ glorified, to see Him praised and to draw people to Calvary. Like John Baptist we should be able to say John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease." Did John spend hours thinking about what he was going to wear, devoting study to fashion and vain shew? Matthew 3:4 "And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey." John knew that his duty was uplift Christ John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Like Paul, those of us who have been baptized into Christ should be able to say, Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."