Last year when I was in Romania I toured Peleş Castle, a beautiful palace of the kings of Romania.“Nimic fara Dumnezeu” was inscribed above each fireplace within the palace. "Nothing Without God."
The fireplace was a place where the family gathered. It was warm; there was light. It was a place of provision. And each time a family gathered around the fireplace they were reminded to do “nothing without God.”
Jesus said to seek first Him and His kingdom and everything else would be added. It’s the principle of seeking His kingdom first that allows for the blessing of God in our life. He promised His provision as we seek first His will. Too often today we struggle to find joy and purpose, yet we have more “stuff” than we’ve ever had in any time in history. But “stuff” doesn’t give you the fellowship that being in relationship with Him does. It doesn’t give you warmth. And it certainly won’t illuminate your mind or set your heart on fire.
As I toured the castle, I thought how does a nation go from a place where their motto is “Nothing without God” to a place where they have one of the highest abortion rates in the world, human trafficking is rampant, and forty years of communism have left a country still struggling to this day to find their freedoms in Christ.
How they got here, I do not know, but I believe the key to this nation being transformed and restored can be found in this motto that the kings of old inscribed. “Nothing without God”.
Is God just a part of our lives? Is it everything with God included or is it nothing without God?
Today I leave with a group of XMC students to go for two weeks to the nation of Romania. Please pray that God will use us mightily and that we do “Nothing without God.” That lives will be transformed and restored.
And may we all get to a place where inscribed upon our heart is “Nimic fara Dumnezeu!”
