Nothing

Long, long ago, long before I was born, He was writing my story.  Writing each page with precision, wisdom and passion.  It was a beautiful biography, a grand adventure, one that would include a damsel in distress, a valiant hero, a daring rescue.  And eventually, although it has not yet happened, it will include a “happily ever after.” It is ironic, therefore, that my testimony, the theme of my story, can be summarized in one unlikely word: “Nothing.”

I boast in nothing.  There is not one part of my story for which I can take credit.  It’s not about what I have done or what I have accomplished.  From my first infant breath until my final moment of life, it was, is, and will continue to be all about what He has done for me. 

“Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling.”

- from Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady

He chose me to become a part of His family.  When He died on the cross to forgive my sins, His only requirement for me was that I have faith.  Where did my faith come from?  He gave it to me!  It wasn’t because I was good enough or smart enough or had enough potential.  I deserved nothing but death as the punishment for my sin.  But instead of death, He chose to give me life.  The free gift of salvation.  He gave me everything.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –

not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

I lack nothing.  Out of His abundant love, He provides for my every need.  His grace, His mercy, His Word – all of it is sufficient for me.  Why am I tempted to compare myself to other people and what they have?  Why is my heart so prone to become discontent?

David knew this great truth and proclaimed it in Psalm 23:  “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. . . my cup overflows.”  It’s true.  My cup, my life, overflows with blessings, too numerous to count.

Yet even without the physical gifts, the tangible blessings, He gives something even better.  He gives Himself.  He gave a promise to Moses in Genesis 15:1.  He did not say “I will give you a reward.”  No, He declared “I am your very great reward.”  God Himself is the gift.  How my heart overflows with gratitude for the priceless relationship that He allows me to have with Him!  Could there be anything else in this world that could possibly satisfy more?

His divine power has given us everything we need

for life and godliness through our knowledge of him

who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

Nothing is impossible.  With His grace He has saved me.  With His love He has given me everything I need.  And with His power, He makes all things possible.  The temptation to despair?  The weariness that causes me to want to give up?  He gives me the strength to stand strong and persevere for one more day.  The insurmountable obstacles.  The unanswered prayers.  The unimaginable heartache.  Every moment I need to be reminded that nothing is impossible with God.  (Luke 1:37)  No matter the desperate situation, it’s never in vain or too late or impossible.  It’s never hopeless.

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.

Nothing is too hard for you.  Jeremiah 32:17

I must become nothing.  Just as He saved me through no works, no effort of my own, He continues to do the tedious work of molding me and shaping me towards maturity.  Day after day, year after year, He patiently teaches me what it means to die to myself.

Those many times (every day!) that I fail?  The goals that I set for myself that seem absolutely unattainable?  I don’t need to roll up my sleeves and just try harder next time.  That will only lead to more frustration, more failure, more despair.  Growing and doing and serving and living out of my own limited resources and finite wisdom will only lead to futility.  As paradoxical as it may seem, my only hope, my only claim to a meaningful life is to become nothing.  To know what it means to have Christ in me.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,

but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

Nothing can separate me from His love.  There is no sin too shocking, no mistake too disastrous, no accusation too appalling that will ever cause Him to stop loving me.  Just as I did nothing to earn His grace in the first place, I can do nothing now that will cause His grace to end.

The enemy is indeed a powerful one.  He seeks to discourage me by often reminding me of my failures and shortcomings.  He attempts to destroy my credibility, my testimony, my usefulness.  At every opportunity he tries to divide my family with lies and deceit, anger and bitterness.   But never, not for one second, can he diminish God’s love for me, which is infinitely more powerful.

The realities of this life can be harsh and devastating.  Dreams remain unrealized.  But no matter what else may be broken and ruined, the love of Christ remains intact.  Protected.  Complete.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . .  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

What hope!  What peace!  I can cease striving, and can rest in the great, unchanging promise that He loves me without stipulations.  Not if I’m good enough.  If I do enough.  If I perform enough.  He loves me.  Period.  And nothing can separate me from that extraordinary, unequaled, miraculous love.  Nothing.