Giving up too soon
Hot dogs and grill were packed in the minivan, along with the hope that we could find a scenic spot somewhere in the mountains for a hike and a picnic. Just as we got to the area where the pavement ends, we ran into a few friends who had been up through that area numerous times before. "You take the first road to the left and just stay on it. After a while it opens up to some gorgeous spots that overlook Lake Pend Oreille", they informed us. "Sounds great," we said, and started up the mountain. Once we found what seemed to be the first road to the left, (mountain roads are not exactly well marked, you know...) we headed down through the woods, bumping and rattling on a road not particularly built for minivans. There were a number of times that we had to straddle deep ruts or make detours to avoid large rocks in order to keep going. Each time this happened I would hear groans from one corner of the van or another of, "Dad, are you suuure this is the right road?" or "Pleeeease can we go back? Can you find a place to turn around?" or "Dad, do you think the van is going to be ok?" These comments only added to my own sense of ambivalence about the cost vs. benefits of taking this route. But the thought of a family picnic overlooking the lake kept pushing me to at least to go around the next bend, then the next one.... After we scraped the undercarriage on pile of rocks, I decided that maybe we should find the next turnaround spot and head back. "Surely we missed the right road", I thought. So I took the next little turn off by some high voltage power lines and we all got out for a little hike to try to salvage something from our little mountain excursion.
When we got to the top of the little ridge, we looked across toward where the main "road" was heading and saw a faint glimmer of brightness through the trees way in the distance. "Let's go a little further," I announced. "I think that might be the lake over there through those trees." Needless to say, everybody's attitudes improved once we got to the scenic overlook and found views of the lake that exceeded our expectations. All of a sudden, the twists and bumps in the road seemed pretty insignificant and we settled in for some nice family time. 
Recently I began to realize what a vivid picture this story paints of the journey that many of us take as we try to grow as Christians. We start out our Christian life with hearts full of hopes and dreams. We hope for the fullness that Jesus promised to all those who truly believe. After all, Jesus had told us in His Word, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." And we dream of bearing 30, 60, or 100-fold fruit to the praise of this wonderful Savior. Didn't He say, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit?" Surely these promises meant that we should expect to know Jesus' presence and power in our lives in the here and now, we thought. Heaven will surely be the final reward, but there will be fellowship with God and the blessing of seeing his kingdom advance until then. Ah, but then the twists and bumps of life begin coming, and the rocks along the way began scraping us... The rosy faith-filled thoughts of the early days begin to lose their sparkle and we experience subtle doubts about God's goodness and the blessedness of walking with Him. The strange jumble of internal doubts and disappointing experiences seems to beg us to stop climbing, stop pressing on, and especially to stop believing in the promises of God.
It is here that many Christians find themselves today--not ever abandoning a perfunctory belief that God is there, but not pressing on to really know Him in victory and power either. Because it is so common, this tepid Christianity begins to be understood as the best that a Christian can expect or hope for in this life. Many a Christian can be found picnicking beside the "beauty" of telephone poles and powerlines simply because they stopped too soon.
Could it be, that you are one who is settling for less than what God has promised for those who believe? Are you finding yourself satisfied with a religious profession, but not really growing deeper in a love relationship with Jesus Christ himself? According to scripture, only those who keep on seeking will find. Only those who keep hungering and thirsting after righteousness shall be filled. Perhaps our greatest need is to repent for giving up too soon, and stir up the hunger for God that was there at the start--back when we were just believing the simple words of Scripture.
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13
When we got to the top of the little ridge, we looked across toward where the main "road" was heading and saw a faint glimmer of brightness through the trees way in the distance. "Let's go a little further," I announced. "I think that might be the lake over there through those trees." Needless to say, everybody's attitudes improved once we got to the scenic overlook and found views of the lake that exceeded our expectations. All of a sudden, the twists and bumps in the road seemed pretty insignificant and we settled in for some nice family time. 
Recently I began to realize what a vivid picture this story paints of the journey that many of us take as we try to grow as Christians. We start out our Christian life with hearts full of hopes and dreams. We hope for the fullness that Jesus promised to all those who truly believe. After all, Jesus had told us in His Word, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." And we dream of bearing 30, 60, or 100-fold fruit to the praise of this wonderful Savior. Didn't He say, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit?" Surely these promises meant that we should expect to know Jesus' presence and power in our lives in the here and now, we thought. Heaven will surely be the final reward, but there will be fellowship with God and the blessing of seeing his kingdom advance until then. Ah, but then the twists and bumps of life begin coming, and the rocks along the way began scraping us... The rosy faith-filled thoughts of the early days begin to lose their sparkle and we experience subtle doubts about God's goodness and the blessedness of walking with Him. The strange jumble of internal doubts and disappointing experiences seems to beg us to stop climbing, stop pressing on, and especially to stop believing in the promises of God.
It is here that many Christians find themselves today--not ever abandoning a perfunctory belief that God is there, but not pressing on to really know Him in victory and power either. Because it is so common, this tepid Christianity begins to be understood as the best that a Christian can expect or hope for in this life. Many a Christian can be found picnicking beside the "beauty" of telephone poles and powerlines simply because they stopped too soon.
Could it be, that you are one who is settling for less than what God has promised for those who believe? Are you finding yourself satisfied with a religious profession, but not really growing deeper in a love relationship with Jesus Christ himself? According to scripture, only those who keep on seeking will find. Only those who keep hungering and thirsting after righteousness shall be filled. Perhaps our greatest need is to repent for giving up too soon, and stir up the hunger for God that was there at the start--back when we were just believing the simple words of Scripture.
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13
Labels: Faith, Personal Revival, Revival
posted by pressingon at
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