Nothing

 

 

 

Sometimes our scholarship

Goes right to our head,

And we replace the explicit word

For what we think instead...

 

And give scholastic interpretations

Where none was required

To render a meaning

That our religious sect desires.

 

Simple words like “all”

Will throw us down

And drive us to Greek and Hebrew

As we try dancing around.

 

Maybe another time

We will have a look at “all”

But it is the word “nothing”

With which I am enthralled.

 

Once we couldn’t use a word

To explain the meaning of the word,

That by any teacher

Would be considered absurd.

The dictionary defines nothing

As “nothing at all”

Maybe such dictionaries

Need to be recalled.

 

I have a different view

From what some would advance,

A universal understanding

Needs not be enhanced.

 

Nothing means “nothing”!

That is what “nothing” means,

There is nothing more to “nothing”

And nothing more to be gleaned.

 

Who shall separate us

From the love of God?

What type of question is herein asked

If you said rhetorical, you I applaud.

Eight questions are asked

In a single verse

And the obvious answer is “nothing”.

No apology for being terse.

 

 The opening question is who

But all of the others imply what,

Go now to Romans 8 verse 35

And find the exact spot.

 

Sometimes the word “nothing”

Can be difficult to understand

So the writer goes on

With a clearly thought out plan.

 

Two more verses are used

Read verses 38 and 39

And “nothing” is the answer

That comes back every time.

 

In this Paul was persuaded

That the answer was “nothing”

But it is too good to be true

So we can’t stop digging.

Okay nothing Is understood

But what about no one?

And to this I would like to say

Come on, be gone!

 

But as a good teacher

Paul would never do that

So he enlightens one and all

With yet another fact.

 

Nor any other creature

Is his answer to this,

That should cover everyone

Unless there is something I missed.

 

But some are still desperate

And in one last attempt

Will suggest the person himself,

That’s the “who” they present.

 

Paul’s response to that

Is “nor any other creature” again

So be happy in Jesus

And avoid this stress and strain.

 

Nothing means nothing

Please understand

That God is more than able

To accomplish His plan.

 

Stewart Russell © October 2019