"I saw the ungodly greatly exalted and lifting himself up like the cedars of Lebanon; and I passed by, and behold, he was not; and I sought for him, but his place was not found." (Ps 36:35-36 OSB)
Why was he "no more, and his place nowhere to be found"? Because you had "passed by." But if you are still carnally-minded, and that earthly prosperity appears to you to be true happiness, you have not yet "passed by" him; you are either his fellow, or you are below him. Go on, and pass him; and when you have made progress, and have passed by him, you will observe him by the eye of faith. You will see his end, and say to yourself, "Lo! he who so swelled before, is not!" just as if it were some smoke that you were passing near to.
— St. Augustine