The Saddest Phrase in the Bible

Tuesday - March 22nd

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 4:17-32

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They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Ephesians 4:18

A. A. Milne created Eeyore (the donkey) as part of the cast of characters in his Winnie the Pooh stories. English illustrator E. H. Shepard gave us the blueish donkey we have come to know and love. Eeyore always sees the sad or discouraging side of things. He makes some of the simplest and saddest statements of the various characters surrounding Winnie the Pooh.

The energy and bouncy nature of Tigger provide the exact opposite effect as Eeyore. As a matter of fact, Tigger's laugh and over-the-top enthusiasm for everything make the negative nature of Eeyore and his comments even sadder - if that is possible. Eeyore becomes the consummate pessimist compared to Tigger's positivity among Winnie the Pooh's friends.

All Eeyore has to say is "Oh, Pooh" in his slow, lethargic voice, and he injects pessimism into whatever scenario the various characters find themselves. In many ways, "Oh, Pooh" is one of the saddest statements any notable cartoon character ever makes. This is because it captures so much of the heaviness of Eeyore's outlook and quickly brings others down at the same time.

While the Scriptures often bring great encouragement, some passages and phrases help us face the harsh reality of life in a fallen world. Unfortunately, sometimes these statements are simply sad. To me, one of the most heartbreaking statements of the Bible appears in Ephesians 4:18. In describing people in the world who do not know Christ, the Apostle Paul says, "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."

At the core of what Paul says in that verse is the sad yet straightforward phrase, "they are...separated from the life of God." This is perhaps the saddest phrase in the Bible. In the opening verses of chapter two of his letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul declared that without Christ, we are all spiritually dead. We have no life spiritually before God. But that same section of Paul's letter says that God makes us alive in Christ by His grace when we express our faith in Christ.

No one has to remain separated from the life of God. All can have eternal life through Jesus. Thank God for the eternal life you have in your Savior if you know Christ. If you don't know Christ, trust Him now. God will raise you immediately from spiritual death and give you eternal life.

Eeyore loves to make sad statements with no hint of hope and bring others down. God does things differently. He gives us the reality we face in being spiritually separated from the life of God. But, He also lovingly gave us His Son so we could have eternal life in God through Jesus!

No one has to be "separated from the life of God." Because of Jesus, anyone can have eternal life in Him!