Things are Serious !

If you listen to the news much and buy gas you know we have some serious problems in our nation. You hear of people saying this could very well be the most important election of our lifetime’s coming up. I tend to agree, things are serious. But are we?  It is not uncommon at all in our churches to see that a few people do most of the work (someone else will do it), attendance is viewed as optional (I’ll come if I feel like it or can break away from my pursuits), supporting one’s church financially takes a back seat to what I want to use “my” money for (if every one in the church gave what you did would you be able to live on it? Could your church pay its bills and fund missionaries well?), reading your Bible  and praying are sporadic at best, inviting people to church and witnessing is something I haven’t done in ages, and on an on the negative list could go to show that Christians need to be more serious about the Lord they say they love !

Solomon gave us a verse in Proverbs 14:34 which taps into the remedy for our nation’s, our families, our very lives success when he wrote, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”   And as he dedicated the Temple, the Lord told him, “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chron.7:14).  We all sin still, we sometimes fall into spiritual ruts but we need to stay on track spiritually. When we realize we have “dropped the baton” we need to get up and get back in the race ! The first thing is repentance and then we have the heart to again run our race with patience out of a love for our great Savior !

I recall one of my first races in hurdles on the high school track team. It was  called the 330 intermediates which meant not low or high but medium height hurdles for almost a quarter mile (330 yards). It is a grueling race and your legs get heavy toward the end. I was doing fine until near the final turn when I misjudged my jump and hit the track, the guy next to me then passed me but I knew I needed to get up and not quit. I needed to finish the race and so I quickly lept to my feet and sprinted after him barely catching him at the finish line.  But even if I hadn’t I could not have been very pleased with myself had I just laid there in misery.  I left the cinders of the track in my knee to this day as a reminder of that race and what I learned from it.

Political pundits aside, this year is important for our nation but the key is YOU, what will God be allowed to do in YOU !  If we let Him have His way, if we confess our failings and get back in the race then God promises He will do great things !  He will exalt our nation, He will heal our land.  If you’re not already and some of those examples above hit home then get serious today about our relationship with Him !! The stakes are high, the rewards are awesome !!!