Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing. Our problem, is
recognizing and admitting when we are doing nothing. Christianity has become
the watering hole of the lukewarm. If it were not for our piddling around the
church, most would find it difficult to count their lives worthy in His cause
at all. The danger we face is interpreting in our lives “nothing” for
something. To see something, when in actuality we are starring into a void. When
the faith that is said to move mountains, can barely stir us from slumber, how
are we able to continue so contently in it. This occurs mainly because we
refuse to admit that our something, is in reality God’s nothing. Who can forget
the echo of these words from scripture, “And what more shall I say? For the time
would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David,
and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers.
Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others
had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yes, more, of bonds and
imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were
slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. And these
all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise,
for God had provided some better thing for us, that they should not be made
perfect without us.” (Hebrews 11:32-40) We must beware of
Satan’s magic, it is his ability to make appear in your mind, something, that
is in reality nothing. More importantly, it is his ability to allow you to live
contently with it, all the days of your life!
Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.
