THE MEANING OF NOTHING

John 15:5-7

Jesus said, ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

“Apart from me, you can do nothing.” These words kept echoing in my mind long after I read them.

“What do You mean - NOTHING?” I asked God. “Everyone does a lot of things every day, whether or not they believe in You, and many of these people are extremely rich, famous, talented and kind! In fact, I am nothing, compared to them.”

Anyway, I prayed, “Jesus, teach me what it means to be NOTHING, apart from You.”

The next day, I came to work as usual, and began downloading some programs online. All of a sudden, a very genuine looking message popped up on my screen. It was called “Windows Care Tool” and appeared to be from Microsoft. Then, the message notified me that viruses had been detected in my files, and it offered to download a solution. Not thinking too much about it, I accidentally clicked on “OK” to download.

Then I thought again, “Based on experience, a genuine offer will always give you a choice to reject. There was no, ‘Deny’, ‘Reject’ or ‘Ask me later’ option on the screen. Only ‘OK’.

‘Oh, dear! How stupid could I be! I just willingly downloaded a virus!” I came to my senses.

That’s when the whole problem began. It was totally impossible to get rid of the pop up message that kept telling me to scan my computer and purchase a software. I could open all my files and documents, type and save on my computer, but I could not access THE INTERNET! How frustrating!!!!

Then I tried every possible spyware and malware scans, but the virus was very smart to terminate the scan even before it started! I got my technical girl to help me, and we both tried everything to camouflage the antivirus to avoid detection, but we just couldn’t do it! I tried everything I could, and I searched for a solution like my life depended on it!

Technical advice said that it was possible to get back internet access without a thorough clean up, but the virus would create havoc to the computer in the long run. So, finally, after a whole day of trying, I gave up and sent it to the shop for a clean–up. Without the internet, I felt that I had lost my life, because I am online for about 50% of the day. Now, I feel like I have my life back!

Through it all, I realized that God had taught me a very good lesson.

The meaning of ‘NOTHING’ - we can have it all and yet have nothing.

Life can give us illusions of what’s real. Just like the virus that popped up on my screen – it offered to give me a genuine solution to my problems, when it was the malicious father of all the viruses!

I could perform all the usual functions on my computer even with its presence, but really, I could do nothing without being connected to the internet. Even if I could find an alternative way to get online, I would be killing my computer system softly inside, while enjoying the surfing.

What I have learned is that the verse is very true. I can do nothing, without being connected to my Source of Life. I want to spend the rest of my life in absolute surrender - being a branch, that realizes I am a useless piece of stick if I am not connected to the tree.

My very breath is from God. He could take my life any minute He wants to. My parents do not belong to me either. Their lives are also at the mercy of their Maker. Neither is my lover really mine; there is no guarantee he’ll be with me for always. Every gift, talent and material possession in life could also be wiped out in an instant – an accident, a terminal disease, an act of nature etc. Everything I have been given is purely by His grace.

But the deceiver within is smart and tends to reject the ‘antivirus’ that is trying to save us, even before it can start the healing process. The thoughts in our minds tell us that we are all that we want to be, enjoying life to the fullest. But just like that virus, it will ultimately consume us. Evil deceives us and makes us want it, but a genuine offer to save always gives us the free will to accept or reject.

Thus, I have come to realize, in life, I am nothing and I own nothing. God is not my greatest possession. Jesus is, in fact, the only thing that I could ever have, in this life and hereafter.

Then may I ask for what I wish, and may it be done for me.

-JJ-