Scriptural Reference:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Philippians 4:8

"Be still, and know that I am God..."
Psalm 46:10

Reflection:

It may come as either a shock or a rude surprise to learn that the Catholic Church once went around burning anyone who believed that the simple Zero, Naught or "0" was a number. Or that there could actually be something that represented nothing. Especially as God is in all things. To believe and even teach that there could be something that God was not part of was deem sheer heresy. The Catholic Church at the Council of Myassia deemed the heresy so bad they would seek out adherents and burn them alive.

Oddly they concept of the zero dates back to roughly 2000 years before the birth of Jesus the Christ. It is suggested that it was developed by an Islamic Mathematician to represent a nil value that is neither positive or negative. Something useful when calculating commerce. It may also be noted that the zero is thought to have originated within the “fertile crescent” of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerian over 5,000 years ago. Scribes used spaces to denote absences in number columns as early as 4,000 years ago, but the first recorded use of a zero-like symbol dates to sometime around the third century B.C. in ancient Babylon. Perhaps a contrast to the earlier train of thought. So taking both into consideration it may not be definitively reconciled when the first use of the now all important zero or naught was first implemented.

So after well over 5,000 years how do we as Christians reconcile God in literally everything along with a zero which represents nothing? Especially in a sceptical world that enjoys using pseudoscience to disprove the existence of God? It was Ignatius of Loyola who first made the statement that God could and should be found in all things. Well here are some suggested ways to work towards seeing and feeling God in all things.

Change your thinking about yourself and about God. As Christians we have become one with our Saviour Jesus the Christ. He has literally joined us and become one with us. We are filled with His love and grace. Through His presence in our lives. This is expressed both through the teachings we should be learning and living by; as well as the Holy Spirit that dwells in each of us. A portion of Jesus within us. So essentially we should think about God when we think about ourselves. We should recognise God whenever we contemplate what it is to be who we are. Which leads us to the next point.

Regard every thought of God as God. When, as Christians, we are told in Philippians 4:8 to focus on wholesome things, we are encouraged to focus on what God Himself would focus on. We are seeing and thinking in line with what a perfectly Holy God would. So essentially if we find our thoughts returning to worldly cardinal things we are denying the presence of God within us. We are closing ourselves to His importance and presence in us. An aspect of who we are that leads to the next point.

Remember that God dwells in all others, too. Oddly there are many pantheists and spiritualists who will try and say that everyone, both Christians and no Christian, has a god within. Yet the proposition is clouded with a range of vague and sometime murky terminology. They will express an over all view that Christians are not the only ones to have a god in them. That everyone regardless of their belief or lack of belief system, including atheists, is a spirit driven being. So for them the worse murder would have the same spirit of god as someone like Mother Theresa. Christians have heard this claim before. For us there is no credibility to it. Everyone is born with the same empty human body shell. With a deep inner longing and desire to connect with God. Yet a wilful nature of sin that keeps us separate from Him. We have come to understand that when we accept Jesus the Christ as our Lord, Redeemer and Saviour, we are filled with the very essence and presence of God. That we no longer walk alone through the world of darkness. We don't accept that God is in everyone. Though we do recognise tht God is within other Christians. We also can accept and recognise that some people have filled their inner spiritual void with an evil substitute for God. Those who have done so have also perpetrated some of the worlds most evil and heinous crimes against humanity.

So how do we reconcile the who;le zero concept with an acceptance that God is indeed in all things? Things that are seen, felt, and hidden? We do so through the experience we each have living with God as a physical and spiritual part of our very being. We do so in the realisation that even in something as simple and mundane as the zero we can still find God. We continue to seek God and to embrace Him in all that we believe, do and represent to the world. For us God is like the very air we breathe. Felt and unseen at the very same time. Which leads to our last point.

Be still and know that I am God. The world can be a noisy and chaotic place. We can find it hard to focus and concentrate on things we need to do. I for one need to have a certain level of silence or quiet to be able to write these messages. So how do we learn to be still so that we can continue to know and acknowledge that God is still real and very much there. The words in the point come from Psalm 42:10. Be still, calm your thoughts and you emotions. Know without distraction or question that God is exactly whom He says He is. I find it useful to at times to go to a place of solitude. A place where I am not challenged with schedules or routines. Where I can sit quietly and listen for the calm voice of the Holy Spirit. As she comforts me and reminds me of God whom dwells within me. You may find a different place or time to meditate on the presence of God and the Word of God. Just take time to do so as you will find the rewards will be amazing.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
You are life to me.
I recognise the presence of you,
Within me every day.
May I never forget,
The impact you can have,
To the world I live in.
Provided I always acknowledge you,
As the nost important aspect,
Of whom I am an how I live.

Amen