8 The Emptiness of Life For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope Romans 8:20 God Subjects everyone to this futility - No person is able to bypass this futility. We need to talk about why God does this, but first we need to understand what this futility is. The Greek word that is translated futility means emptiness as to results. This means that even if we achieve the goals we have in life, we will still feel empty and unsatisfied. We see evidence of this emptiness in the lives of very successful people, people we admire, who have achieved what many desire. Winston Churchill was a British politician who was very admired for his dogged determination. Time Magazine chose Churchill as Man of the half century (1900- 1950), and in 2002 BBC viewers voted him the greatest man of Great Britain for all time. Now listen to Churchill’s own words as he reflected on his life: “I have achieved a great deal to achieve nothing in the end.”1 Elvis Presley was probably as well known as any singer who ever lived. He had everything he wanted: wealth, women & a singing and acting career. Even so he took a dose of drugs that threatened his life everyday. David Stanley, his step- brother, was asked why Elvis took these destructive drugs. Stanley answered by quoting Elvis, “I would rather be uncon- scious than miserable.” 2 Think about it: Elvis had everything he wanted, and yet he said his life was miserable.