The Empty Space That No Human Being Can Fill

Have just read an article on ‘Britain’s loneliness epidemic’. Most of it due to the way we live today, with Smart phones and AI etc., which do not help. Human beings need to be able to interact with their fellows, not just on videos and phone but face to face on frequent occasions, as humans are basically social creatures.

There are those who are quite happy and content to be alone most of the time. I am one of them, but I like to have real life contact with the few friends I have and my family. My parents are long dead, but I still have a brother and his wife with whom I enjoy the occasional visit. I talk to my brother frequently on TEAMS or Messenger and that is fine, but there is nothing quite like being in the same room.

However, most of my time is taken up with prayer and studying the Word of God and so I very rarely feel ‘lonely’. But there are times when I do feel lonely, and when I do, I instinctively turn to the Lord Jesus and yes, He does take away that feeling, it’s not unlike Elijah when He complained to God that he is the only one left, and God tells him that He still has 7000 men that have not bowed down to Baal. Elijah was not alone but at that moment he felt like he was: “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant…  and I, even I only, am left…“ 1Kings 19:14.

But the Lord always has His believing remnant and tells Elijah: 

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1Kings 19:18 

Which brings me to the point. The way this Article that I read talks about the growing loneliness especially among young people, it tells me that this is a loneliness that no human being can fill. As a people, we have turned our backs on our God and so we have left an empty space in us – the God space. It is a part of us as His Christian Israel people that only He can fill, we need Him as much as we need air to breathe. He is our life giver and sustainer, without Him in our lives we are just drifting, not knowing which way to turn for comfort and peace. Or as Jesus says in Luke’s gospel “…and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity” [meaning ‘no way out’]… Luke 21:25, because it is not just loneliness but fear also of what is going on in the world today.

We will not find either comfort or true peace in a life without God in it; oh we may be able to pacify our minds for a while whether we are with people or alone and claim to be happy and content, but ultimately that empty space in each one of us will get bigger and at the point of death if we do not have the Lord Jesus as our travelling companion through life, we will feel very lonely indeed.

Many non-believers have turned to the Lord at the moment of death, as one of the malefactors crucified with Jesus did, but what a pity one had to wait so long before accepting the Lord’s grace and comfort. Still as they say, ‘better late than never’ and in this case most definitely. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Luke 23:42 

Jesus’ reply must have been of great comfort to the thief: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43, not condemnation for his sins, but forgiveness and love even while our Lord Himself must have been in great agony from being crucified .  

I wish I could get it over to those who do not believe just how profound the love of God is for His people. It is not until you ‘walk the walk’ as they say that you start to experience His presence. It’s not flashing lights and great claps of thunder etc., but that voice, that inner voice.

“…And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1Kings 19:11,12

Although we cannot see with our eyes, it is more than just a feeling, it is a knowing, the substance and the evidence as St. Paul said:  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.

The people must turn back to God, He alone can fill that lonely space, He alone can give us that peace which the world cannot give [John 14:27] and which passes all understanding. [Philippians 4:7]. Amen.