Forever Full

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

There are some things in life that just feel empty. Like mowing the lawn. I hate it. Because I can almost feel the grass growing back. Peter says something very confronting in verse 18. He says that outside of Christ, life is empty, it’s like you’ve spent your whole life mowing a lawn that was always going to grow back.

Now, how can he say that? Well, think about some other things he’s said. Do you remember back in chapter 1 verse 6-7? Why do we have hope in the midst of trials? Because the proven genuineness of your faith brings glory, honor and praise to Jesus into eternity.

So connect some dots. Things done not in faith are empty because they don’t bring glory, honor or praise to Jesus. Let me put it another way.

What will everyone be talking about in the new creation? It won’t be the conquests of Julius Caesar. It won’t be the Tesla Model 3. It won’t be the P.H.D. my friend did on some random subject. It will be things done in faith.

That’s a sad reality for those who don’t know Jesus. I read a quote recently that went something like this, “everyone just wants to be remembered”. Sadly, outside of Christ, they won’t be. But the good news is, that in Christ, we aren’t living empty lives but meaningful ones.

Today:

• Were you living an empty way of life?
• Do you celebrate moments of faith? Or do you glory in emptiness?
• What’s something meaningful you might do in faith this week?

Pray:

• Praise the Father for purpose and meaning in life.
• Give thanks for Jesus Christ who rescued us from emptiness.
• Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others live by faith.