Empty Hearts and Empty Lives

“I have come that you might have life – life in its fullness.” John 10:10 Today’s English Version

“Life without Jesus as its center will never be all that you long for life to be.”

My thoughts today are that “an empty heart makes an empty life.”

Remember when life was exciting, exhilarating, and filled with anticipation? Christmas as a child – first day of school – first date – finally, your driver’s license – falling in love? But everyday life doesn’t always feel that way, does it? Life too quickly fills with routines and responsibilities, and each day they wear away a little of the mysteries and wonder. School becomes homework and hard work. Dating becomes complicated, even confusing. A driver’s license involves gasoline, and insurance, and repairs. Falling in love eventually brings rent or mortgage, and bills.

Too soon, spontaneity yields to a schedule that becomes repetitive, and you find yourself trudging through life feeling that emptiness – a sense of “same old, same old” – with something deep inside telling you that life is not meant to be that way. That experience is not because of what you put into your life, as much as what you may have left out of your life.

Life without Jesus as its center will never be all that you long for life to be. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can take His place or fill that void. You see, that void, that emptiness you feel in your soul runs so deep. You cannot mask it with stuff; you cannot silence it with noise; you cannot ignore it with busyness. Francis Schaeffer, noted theologian and Christian philosopher, wrote, “Man has a purpose – to be in relationship with God . . when he forgets his purpose he forgets who he is and what life means.” Life does not work well when you forget who you are and what life means.

Life cannot be what it is meant to be, when you leave God out. God alone makes sense of everything else about your life. The Bible says that Jesus “came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV. God makes what you have, enough. God makes friendships and relationships enriching. God makes who you are, meaningful and satisfying. God makes what you do, fulfilling. God fills your future with hope and unlimited possibilities. See Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.

The Bible narrative begins with these words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void, and darkness covered . . and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV. That is the way anyone’s life is until Jesus is invited to come in and set it right, and fill it with life and fullness, and give light and understanding. He is there, just waiting for your invitation to do so today, and every day that follows.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul described filling the void of an empty heart and an empty life, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you . . know the love of Christ that passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Read Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV. Don’t try to live life – even a moment of it – without Jesus filling your heart.

My prayer for you today is: make room for Jesus in everything you are and do.