VOID

Have you ever boycotted a product because its maker was associated with wrongdoing? A company that endorses corruption or whose reputation is tainted by sleazy actions will not last long. Reputation is not something to be taken lightly.

Meditation

1 Chronicles 5:1—These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. He was the firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Rueben defiled his father’s bed. He is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright.

Reuben could have been one of the most popular names in the mideast and western world. As Jacob’s firstborn of twelve sons, he was the possessor of the birthright which entitled him to a double portion of inheritance (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17) and royal succession might have followed through his sons. Unfortunately, Reuben made a huge blunder. Genesis 35: 22 records, “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” This was an outrageous affront, a brazen act of disrespect to his dad. Unfortunately, it was not the only thing Reuben did wrong. He had a reputation for being “turbulent as water.” On Israel’s deathbed as he spoke final words over his sons, he refrained from blessing Reuben, instead telling him he would no longer excel (Gen. 49:4). His birthright went to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Rueben’s tribe never really amounted to much.

If history ran its normal course, do you realize that you and I would be void? Because a holy God cannot associate with evil, by His own right standard of justice we should be eternally separated from His presence. In effect, we would have no spiritual inheritance. I don’t know about you, but I (too my shame), can think of many things I have done that were wrong, that clearly violated God’s law. I am guilty. I have no excuse. My tribe of one, would be exiled forever to some superheated plot in hell were it not for Jesus.

If sin makes us void, grace makes us valid. But we have to renounce our sin and follow Jesus to receive that grace. If we continuously choose to ignore what God wants, to have what we want, then grace clearly is not at work in us. A life changed by the Holy Spirit resists sin. A life continually running after sin will fill a space void of God and void of meaning.

Inspiration

“Void” means the aftermath of destruction by judgement, or the result of Divine judgement.—Oswald Chambers in Biblical Psychology