I hate driving around when my car’s fuel gage is “setting on empty”. In today’s world, I see tons of people “setting on empty” in the manner they live and don’t even know it. Even worse, some people relish in their empty lives. Emptiness is based on this world with humanity being pre-eminent not God with the glory of accomplishments, materialism, and egotism being god. Scripture warns as children of light to not be deceived by darkness but to live in the light and the “fullness” of Jesus.
1 Peter gets the discussion going, “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.” A person is setting on “the empty way of life” when their redemption is the “perishable things” of this world rather than “the precious blood of Christ”.
If you want your life full rather than setting on empty, Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves.” Selfishness and conceit are empty.
Paul again admonishes us inColossians 2:8, “See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition.” Watch out for “philosophy and empty deception” based on worldly logic centered around man rather than God.
Ephesians 5 urges believers to “See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness.”
- Be careful, a person setting on empty can be spotted by the deception of their “empty words”. Typically, these people are full of themselves spouting out empty, egotistical words that make themselves look good with self-centered descriptions of all the things they have achieved. Empty words are deceptive, untruthful, proudful, self- serving, and often lustful leading to darkness and the wrath of God.
- Paul admonishes the Christ-followers to “not partner with them” and “not participate in the useless deeds of darkness”
- In contrast to these folks who are setting on empty, live lives that are full of “goodness, righteousness, and truth.”
John 10:10 presents you with your options, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (emptiness); I came so that they would have life and have it abundantly (fullness).” Are you driving while “setting on empty”?
Barnabas Man 