Avoid The Void!

What gets bigger the more you take from it? Sound strange? Sound impossible? Or have you already heard this riddle? The answer is: “a hole”. The more you take from it the bigger it gets and in the process a void is created.

Now, what is the benefit of digging a hole? One benefit is that dirt taken from the hole might be used somewhere else. However, what is to be done about the hole? Someone might fall into it or at the least, step in it and twist an ankle. The hole left there could possibly create a dangerous situation.

Another benefit of dirt taken from a hole is that something else is to be PUT IN ITS PLACE. Maybe that would be the foundation of a beautiful structure. Perhaps a space would be created for a fruit tree to be planted. In these cases the hole is not left as an empty void since the dirt is REPLACED WITH SOMETHING GOOD.

Picture a life where the “dirt” has been removed. Is it enough to remove the dirt, leaving a void, or does that void need to BE FILLED with something else? Jesus told the parable of a life that was swept clean, but nothing was put in its place, therefore even more of what was removed [an evil spirit] came back in to fill the void [with seven more] and that life was worse off than before. ( Luke 11:24-26)

In Galatians Paul gives us a contrast between the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. It is not enough to get rid of the fruit of the flesh. That fruit needs to BE REPLACED with the fruit of the Spirit. With the Spirit’s fruit being produced in our life it will safeguard us from that other fruit coming back in. The fruit to be rid of (picked out of or dug from the life) is:

“(19) Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ( Galatians 5:19-21 ESV)

Did you notice Paul also mentioned the danger from those things? He then went on to list what should be in their place:

“(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” ( Galatians 5:22-25 ESV)

Voids tend to end up BEING FILLED with something. It is dangerous to just leave that “something” to chance. If you see a habit; a sin; anything that needs to be uprooted from your life -- take care of it! Then be sure you have that which God desires to be planted in your life FILL THAT VOID. God has given us His Spirit to help us. May His fruit be produced!

Have a great day BEING FILLED WITH THE RIGHT STUFF!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 08/16/1998 (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

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