Utterly Empty

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

I Peter 5:10 & 11 (NLT)

Rest and relief at the foot of the Cross

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Red was a young twenty-something college student. My Dad was a young, almost thirty-something preacher and family man. Somehow, Dad and Red crossed paths in 1968.

I only met Red once or twice.

I barely remember what he looked like, except for the feature that must have given him his nickname. I do remember his hair.

I was six when our family met Red. He seemed friendly, and I know Dad liked him.

What I remember most is the night dad rushed to the hospital to check on Red. He had tried to end his life. Eventually, Red died from his wounds.

But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;

Luke 14:13 (WEB)

Dad was deeply impacted by Red’s death. Dad tried to help him because he knew that Red was very unhappy. Red tried to overcome whatever his sadness was. He didn’t quite make it

Red was utterly empty. His soul craved something that it seems he never found. He couldn’t even figure it out to tell Dad.

But Dad knew that Red had sorrow only Jesus could heal. I know my Dad was a great friend, but human friendship just wasn’t enough.

Even if you are not caged in depression, there is nothing—not a person or any amount of money or ability—that can fill your empty soul,

Only Jesus.

The happiness from engaging with others or achieving dreams is temporary; everything can change.

But Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean, in its fullness over me¹

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Joy has also had a lot of misery in her life. She tells her story gladly, though. As hard as her journey has been, she has known the Source of life for most of her days and years.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

Joy has been sick and afraid. She has lost everything all at once. She’s even had moments when she thought her faith had slipped away. But Joy understood the feelings she experienced were not trustworthy.

Joy can’t help herself. She talks about Jesus with anyone who will talk to her. She tells every hungry heart that will listen about Jesus.

Joy knew that her faith depended on the Spirit of God, living inside her. He never leaves His own. God’s Spirit has held her fast.

What’s sad is knowing that many people are walking around us in the same way that Joy has—a fellow believer who has needed your kindness and mine.

What about those outside? While no one could help Red want to live, God worked through believers like my dad. God still often works through willing believers.

My dad wasn’t perfect, but he loved Jesus and cared for people like Red. He was attentive to God’s work in life and often served others. We can do that, too.

The pursuit of souls by God is a mystery. His Word is full of examples of people who were rescued at just the right time.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Romans 5:6 (NLT)

To assume that Red never responded to God is judgmental; one can’t know the dialogue between a dying person and God in their last moments. Remember the thief on the cross.

Don’t be hesitant to reach out to people.

People need to know – what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)