This past week my family and I were on holiday on the Cornwall coast. I simply expected to enjoy a relaxing time, but it was a Divine appointment in which God drew me to Himself in a surprising way.

We explored a few of the coastal towns and came to a place called St. Ives. Set on an idyllic coastline and blessed with a characterful town, it was everything I hoped Cornwall to be. As we walked the quaint cobblestone paths, appreciating the cottages and ancient buildings all around … I became strangely aware of an … an emptiness!

Now, feelings of emptiness or any other negativity is not something I tolerate. I would normally just turn my mind on Him and return to a place of peace and rest.  As I silently prayed, I sensed that what was happening was something He initiated. He was giving me an experience of emptiness … exactly the opposite of the fullness one experiences in His presence.

In the midst of all the beauty … even in the company of those I love, I became aware of such meaningless emptiness. He showed me what life is like without Him. Without Him the idyllic coast was reduced to nothing more than dirt and water. The beauty drained from every scene. The picturesque cobblestone paths and cottages became nothing more than dirty streets between old buildings.

The crowds of excited holiday makers, roaming through town, suddenly lost all their energy – all seemed like such meaningless activity – no value; no purpose … nothing without Him.

The Lord pulled me back from this place of despair and I enjoyed many precious moments with the family. I knew that He was teaching me something very significant and from time to time I would again have some experience that reminded me of the hopelessness of everything without Him.

The lesson was brought to a conclusion on the trip home – a seven hour journey. God reveals much about Himself by the names He chose for Himself. I was reminded of the name ‘Jesus’ – the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Saviour.

Matthew 1:21She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus , for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].

I began to appreciate Him as Saviour in a way that overwhelmed me with gratitude. In the midst of emptiness, meaninglessness and purposelessness, He is indeed my Saviour.

The most delicious meal, set in a perfect environment would fail to stir an appetite … without Him.
The simplest of meals, satisfies … with Him.
A life of great achievement would be nothing more than wasted activities, meaningless pursuits and purposeless existence … without Him. But with Him, seemingly insignificant moments become eternal treasures. He saves my live from emptiness. He saves every moment from insignificance.
Our highest and best thoughts, even our thoughts about Him, would be nothing more than empty philosophy; self-deceit … if they were without Him, without His warm and personal presence.

But He did not leave us to and by ourselves, to guess and grope in the dark after some idea of Him. No, He came – the Word became flesh and revealed the thoughts of God – grace upon grace; truth upon truth – substance that dispels all emptiness. He Himself became the truth of my thoughts, the substance of my dreams.

“Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too.” Col 1
Saviour … Jesus,
Thank You, thank You, thank You.