Vacuums, Despots, and COVID-19

Aristotle said, “Nature abhors a vacuum,” meaning that every space in nature needs to be filled with something. This isn’t only true about black holes; it is true of the human soul. Jesus identified this truth by telling a strange story of an exorcism gone bad. But upon closer examination, we discover that Jesus’ warning is about much more than exorcism. He is warning us about the empty spaces in our lives and the consequences of ignoring those vacancies. Join us for part five of Pause as we consider the vacuum that has been created as a result of COVID-19 and how we can avoid the dangerous consequences of the void.

Pause and ask yourself

Passage (Read it):

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Matthew 12:43-45

Princliple (Know It):

Nature abhors a vacuum and so does your soul.

Practice (Do It):

Filling the vacuum:

• Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
• Practice authentic community (James 5:16)
• Invite Jesus to fill the void (Psalm 63:1)

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”
– Blaise Pascal

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
– C. S. Lewis

Suggested Reading List for “Pause”:

40 Days to Lasting Change, Kyle Idleman
40 Days of Purpose, Rick Warren
A Call to Die, David Nasser
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day, Peter Scazzero
Ninety Days with the Disciple Jesus Loves, Gary Lee Webber
My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers
Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon

Other sermons you may want to check out:

Awakening (2015), One (2017), Prayer Journey (2018), The Disciple's Journey (2018), Boundaries (2019)

Daily Reading:

Monday: Psalm 63
Tuesday: John 5
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 13
Thursday: 1 Samuel 28
Friday: 2 Samuel 11 & 12
Saturday: 1 Kings 18
Sunday: 1 Kings 19