Weekly Devotion: Nothing

“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” Genesis 11:6

From the first mention of “nothing” here in Genesis 11:6, we see that when un-regenerate men come together, their un-restrained imaginations can produce unlimited wickedness unless God intervenes. Paul describes our fallen nature / “flesh” as containing no-thing good / “no good thing”.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18

In fact, “…if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” (Galatians 6:3). So, not only are we “nothing” without Christ, we can do “nothing” without Christ.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

What a contrast Christians have that the world cannot have because, although without him I can do nothing, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”, and Matthew 17:20 says, “nothing shall be impossible unto you”. This is only true because Jeremiah 32:17 says of God, “there is nothing too hard for thee”, and Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. But in and of ourselves, we are “nothing”, and can do “nothing”, and really know “nothing” as we ought.

“And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:2

Sadly, both Christians and non-Christians have the mindset that we are rich and increased with goods and have need of “nothing” just like the last mention of “nothing”, from Christians in the Bible.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

This is the same attitude that a rich young ruler had who came to Christ and lacked eternal life?

“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” Luke 17:22

He went away sorrowful because he was unwilling to surrender everything. Friend, could it be that thou lackest this same one thing today i.e. salvation? God wants to give us everything if we will only realize that we are nothing! If God is knocking on the door of your heart today (Revelation 3:20) would you be willing to give whatever that thing / those things are to God today and invite him into your heart by faith?