DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- VANITY FAIR

ILGRIM'S PROGRESS – VANITY FAIR

" 'Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity' " (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

"Then I saw in my dream that when they had left the borders of the wilderness, they immediately saw a town before them. The name of that town is Vanity, and in the town there is a year-round market called Vanity Fair. It bears its name because the town that hosts the fair is only concerned with things that are unimportant and vain."

Christian and Faithful, on their way to the Celestial City, of necessity had to pass through the town called Vanity. The market in Vanity, called Vanity Fair, had many things for sale that would allure people, such as "houses, lands, trades, places, honors, positions, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, such as lewd entertainment, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones and whatnot." All of these wares could be obtained at a price. But Christian and Faithful would not be conned into buying into them. Not only were they not buying, but they stood out in the crowd because of their clothing, their speech, and the fact that they had no interest in the items being hawked. So they were beaten and abused, and finally brought to trial for inciting a riot. They were brought before the judge, Lord Hate-Good. Three witnesses were called by the prosecution, Envy, Superstition, and Flattery. Faithful was given opportunity to defend himself, but because of the bias of the judge and jury (Mr. Blind-man, Mr. No-Good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Hothead, Mr. High-mind, Mr Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable), he was condemned to death. Christian was sent back to the prison, from whence he escaped by the hand of "He who overrules all things."

We are strangers and pilgrims who seek a better city (Hebrews 11:13-16), but the temptation to get attached to the things of this vain world is ever present.  The offerings of this world are vanity because they are empty in light of eternity. We are different by our dress, our speech, and our affections for things that are higher, that are above this present world (Colossians 3:2). Jesus-lovers are an abomination to the world because they will not be "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:1). Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world...therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19-20). So we should not be surprised if the citizens of this world reject us and abuse us because we do not participate or buy into their vanity. We have something more valuable and more secure – a heavenly city.

Love, Dad