Navigating Futility
In the quest for understanding, Christians receive the revelation of God (Bible). The blessing of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is bestowed by the Holy Spirit, in the measure and timing determined by Him. In other words, the mind of Christ is granted according to His will and purpose for each believer.
The Christian worldview is formed, as Scripture shapes the mind and gives understanding. Events, both personal and global, are interpreted by the child of God. As one’s perspective is sharpened, there is a development in thinking that requires a pause. Like a yellow warning sign on the roadway, left by one who has preceded the traveler, this topic needs a “slow down and consider the curve” alert.
King Solomon, near the end of his seventy years of life, left us an inspired warning from God that every believer must heed. The subject is futility in the fallen world.
Without a proper view of Jesus Christ and the hope of glory, the shock of meaninglessness can lead to spiritual depression. Yes, Virginia, life in this world is vanity and chasing after the wind. This is not a cause for hopelessness, however. On the contrary, it is actually truth that sets us free (Jn 8:32).
The new believer will cautiously embrace the growing realization that the whole world system is a sham. She will chew on this knowledge, slowly. Afterall, the world around her is already suspicious of the new jargon coming from her lips. It is wise, to carefully navigate this profound reality she is now privy to from the Bible.
With the fall of man (Gen 3), the doctrine of total human depravity helps inform the doctrine of futility. Why is everything so messed up? The basic answer is sin. We are not entirely sure how far man fell in the fall, but it is safe to say, it is further than we could ever think or imagine.
It is essential to every Christian’s theology to see the ravages of sin in people’s lives. We must then establish the premise that people are not “good” (Rom 3:10–12), nor are they getting better, in God’s assessment, through self-determined improvement efforts.
With a spiritually dead soul and biological living body, one enters the world. We are helpless on the day of our entry, and with all our gains in this world, we exit helpless and empty on our final day. Despite ready examples that this is a universal course, no one is inclined, in the flesh, to seek God or His salvation (Rom 3:10–12).
Futility is one element by which God secures His people. The things of the world grow strangely dim, as the old hymn teaches us. The light of truth increases in the Christian life, and the fake lights of the world hold less allure.
Futility implies no satisfaction. For the moment the world’s view of “new” captures one’s attention, as when a flash of light suddenly demands focus. For the unbeliever, it is endless slavery to the promoted novelty. It is a life of endless, built-up expectation and equally endless disappointment.
This is not to diminish the pain caused by the destruction of idols. Still, the child of God is made privy to something far better. Eventually, the loss of the world, and the things of the world, has less negative effect…even bringing a deliverance and relief to some, “That flood caused me to throw out all the junk I had stored in the basement.”
John, the apostle, encouraged the churches of Asia, not to love the world (1 Jn 2:15–17). A proper view of futility aids our compliance to such wise instruction. Not that we embrace Docetism’s view that the material world is inherently evil; rather, we delight in setting our minds on the things above, where Christ is seated, as Lord of all (Col 3:1–2).
The indwelling Spirit of Christ helps the member of Christ’s church to set his mind on spiritual realities that manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23). Remarkable outcomes, like joy in the midst of suffering, become a normal experience for the one walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16).
Christians are people of the future. Our only hope is Jesus Christ (1 Tim 1:1; Col 1:27), and we look for His glorious appearing, on the day He comes again to put away this world of sin and suffering (Mt 24–25). The world, and those who love this temporal foreshadowing of eternal hell, will resist the sovereign Son of God to the end.
Brethren, rejoice that this miserable, fallen world is not our home. The marketed lies of the materialists and the fake news of the false prophets requires spiritual discernment. As the grace of God visits you more and more, do not be dismayed by the ever-growing awareness that everything that is of the world is all vanity (see Ecclesiastes).
Navigating futility is lifework in the flesh. As you walk in the truth, remember that your peculiar example is observed by unbelievers to their chagrin. You are also an inspiration to the church of Christ in the world. To the one you are exposing their foolish pride and empty boasts, but to the other, you are preaching liberty — captives-to-futility set free and sojourning to a futile-free future in a place called “forever with the Lord.”
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 10, 2022
