IS LIFE VANITY UPON VANITY?

On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. After her state funeral on September 19, she was laid to rest in a private ceremony beneath the King George VI Memorial Chapel, attended by her closest family. 

Many reflections on life and death, often aiming to inspire humility, paint a bleak picture of the afterlife. One such narrative highlighted an aspect of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Toward the end of the service, the Archbishop’s words left a lasting impression: 

“Now let us remove all symbols of power from the coffin, so that our sister, Elizabeth, can be committed to the grave as a simple Christian.” 

At that moment: 

The staff of office was removed.

The sceptre was taken away.

Finally, the crown and all symbols of royalty were removed.

The Queen was buried with nothing. Even her title was omitted—she was referred to simply as “Elizabeth.” The message was clear: life is fleeting, and we leave this world with nothing. This should remind us to practice humility: 

Humility in power,

Humility in relationships,

Humility in wealth,

Humility in all our actions.

Some also claim that life on earth is “vanity upon vanity”.  But this claim and the aforementioned narrative would only be accurate if we were merely physical beings. In reality, man is more than his physical body—his core is spirit. Life continues beyond death, and every soul will face the consequences of how it lived on earth. While the body decays, the soul endures in another realm. Those who live according to the Almighty’s Will will find themselves in a better place, while those who disobey will face darker realms in the beyond.

This raises two important questions: 

Do the departed truly leave with nothing? 

Is life on earth “vanity upon vanity”? 

No person’s existence is without purpose unless they choose to make it so. The purpose of life is simple: we are here to learn the Laws of God, live in harmony with them, and grow spiritually thus attaining spiritual maturity. This knowledge is not found in rigid religious doctrines; rather, it is woven into the fabric of Creation itself. By learning these laws, we can live joyful, peaceful lives here on earth and prepare for an even better existence in the beyond as we continue our journey of spiritual development. 

Every achievement, acquisition, and experience is a gift, lovingly bestowed through the workings of the Laws of Creation. Nothing in life is in vain unless we make it so through a lack of gratitude for all we have been given. 

Gratitude, therefore, is the key to a life of purpose. It is through gratitude on earth that the human spirit secures greater abundance in other realms, after its departure. In this way, our earthly journey becomes a blessing for our entire existence. How, then, can such a life be mere vanity? 

Life is not vanity! It has a purpose: spiritual development; and attaining spiritual maturity! 

And here’s a thought you may not have considered: If you live your life well, you will leave this world with everything that truly matters. Surprised? It is true. Those who live in line with the spiritual purpose highlighted above will leave this world with the most valuable possession—their maturing human spirit. On the other hand, those who live only for material gain will leave with nothing. Their identity is tied to their wealth, fame, power, or status—things that perish. These individuals will have nothing to carry forward because their spirit, which should have been focussed and set securely on a journey of spiritual maturation remained negligently undeveloped and is not fit for the continuation of life in Creation. Damnation threatens the ones in such a condition! 

Attaining spiritual maturity is everything. Those who are on this path will leave with everything that defines their true humanity. Material possessions and titles mean nothing in the end. Scripture echoes this truth: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, AMP).

Those who live in accordance with life’s true purpose are not humbled by the thought of death and relinquishing material things. They are already detached from worldly possessions. They use the resources given to them humbly and gratefully, recognizing that these are merely tools for their spiritual growth. When their time comes, they are ready for the upward journey, knowing that the realms beyond are far more beautiful than anything earthly imagination can conjure. 

Life is not vanity. We are meant to enjoy the blessings of the world, provided we don’t cling to or become entangled by them. A person can be a king, famous, or powerful, and still live according to God’s Will if they prioritize spiritual growth, act with love, humility, and respect for others. Likewise, a poor person can live in vanity if they harbour bitterness and neglect their spiritual development. 

Living in vanity is not about wealth or status—it is about one’s attitude toward life. Whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, our purpose is spiritual growth. Those who neglect this journey are the ones living in vain. For them, death may be used as a threat to make them humble. However, true humility comes not from the fear of death but from spiritual enlightenment and a sincere openness to the Truth. 

May we live lives of service, humility, and spiritual growth, always striving to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.