Nothing and Everything- Week One

     Last Sunday at 180 we started a new series, entitled Nothing and Everything. I think Duey is hitting this spot on, and I myself think that this topic can't be pushed enough, even though it may not be the one we necessarily want to listen to. I'm calling it the feel good lesson of the year, and you'll soon learn that is total sarcasm. But it comes with a firm promise at the end. Enjoy!
   
 The whole series started with one sentence:

I am Nothing.

     Well I'm sure that put you in a great mood, but like it or not, that is the total truth. The world teaches us from the minute we are born that we are everything. Conflicting, isn't it? That is part of the reason that we feel we need so many things, and our hearts are filled with endless want. We make ourselves out to be the biggest and most important thing, but that's not how it should be.

     In James 4:14 it says, "Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes". I don't know about you, but that really opens my eyes because that verse is exactly right. The truth is we don't want to fully surrender to the fact that we are so small and insignificant, and no matter what we think, we have no control over what happens. Now ask yourself this question: Out of 7 billion people that live on this Earth, how many of them actually care about you? The answer is an incredibly small number. That should definitely shrink your ego in size. We need to humble ourselves down to the level of what we really are, and stop pretending to be something we're not.

     But consider this: God takes us from the nothing and loves us more than anything in the world. The God of the universe, that created every single thing and knows every star in the sky by name loves you. And who am I that God would care for me, just a small human being? (from Psalm 8:3-4) We are nothing compared to Him. He could kill us all right at this very moment without even having to bat an eye if He wanted, but instead He demonstrates His undying love. We have the opportunity to accept God into our lives and He will be our everything. He wants to guide us and help us draw closer to Him.

     Sometimes we forget the fact that we are nothing. Three specific things come from this:

1. We start to live for US- we use people and things for our own purpose
2. We start to live entitled- we feel like we are owed everything 
3. We loose sight of our need for God- We start to think he is nothing because we put ourselves first

     We should never think that we are bigger than God. When this happens we tend to think of God as someone we can put in a box and just store away until we need Him. That is never the case. God cannot be contained and we should never try to do such a thing. He should always be on the throne of our hearts and the center of our lives. 

The main thing to remember is that we are nothing, and God is everything.

    So when things get busy, or you start to lose sight of God's presence, just stop. Take a moment and experience Him. There is nothing more important than God. And even though you might get busy, never forget the reason that you are here, living, and breathing. God will prove He is your everything, you just have to give Him the chance.

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.