Get Serious

The winds have changed.
The wind we thought we could count on has shifted.
The wind we took for granted is now blowing strongly in another direction.
The weather vane we hardly ever noticed is pointing towards unknown territory.

A ruling is not the only thing that changes the winds of culture.
Elected officials are not the only ones who can shift the direction.
Appointed men in black robes overreach and reverse the weather vane of society.
This group and that group affect change.

I sat in church with a different church family.
I sat alone.
I needed the time and the solitude to steady myself in this new wind.
I held on to the chair in front of me.

I noticed the change of the wind right in that sanctuary.
I noticed the fervency of prayer.
I noticed the heart cry of the songs that were sung.
I joined in the chorus.

And I pondered.
And I ruminated.
How I love that word.
Ruminate means to go over repeatedly in the mind, often casually and slowly.

We sang of God’s sovereignty.
We sang of God’s amazing grace.

We sang about the Cornerstone.
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Savior’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all.

My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I thought of my anchor.
When Darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

My anchor is surely not myself since my fickle feelings cannot be trusted.
My anchor is surely not the government since what should be solid is fluid to them.
My anchor is surely not public opinion since that is based on whims and wants.
My anchor must be steadier than I, steadier than others, steadier than the times.

I know the ballast that holds me steady.

When winds change, people come up with a plan.
People calculate and measure.
However, people fail to measure against a constant.
Failing to do so means that they have to measure again and again.

When we sang there was meaning behind every word that was not there before.
When we prayed there was fervency in the plea that was absent before.
When we listened to the sermon there was a renewed interest that has now awakened.
I realized that I was watching the wind shift in the Church.

I wondered how many services experienced the same thing.
The seriousness and the earnestness.
The devotion and the hunger.
The Wind of the Spirit is blowing.

Watch out!

When the Wind of the Spirit blows there is revival.
When the Wind of the Spirit blows people get serious.
When the Wind of the Spirit blows the weather vane shifts.
When the Wind of the Spirit blows, we stand amazed.

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth; unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me. Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason that I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:20-28)

Sir, we would like to see Jesus.
I learned something I never knew before.
That verse is carved on many pulpits and is seen only by the one preaching.
It is a reminder of the real purpose as they stand there preaching God’s Word.

It is a reminder to show people Jesus.

I thought of that as we sang and as we prayed.
I thought of that as the sermon was preached.
Sir, we would like to see Jesus.
We would like to see Jesus.

That’s our job.
That’s our job, especially now.
We have new marching orders.
GET SERIOUS!

Get serious about reading God’s Word, so you know what it says and so you can tell others.
Get serious about prayer, not just for your laundry list of needs but also for the Kingdom.
Get serious about evangelizing, not just when it’s safe but when it’s terribly difficult.
Get serious about taking a stand, not just when you’re with believers but when you are not.

Find your voice.
Know His voice so well that it becomes your voice.
This is not the time to sit back.
This is the time to get moving.

How well has the Church of Christ been doing?
How well have we been exemplifying what a Christian marriage should be?
How well have we been showing Christ to others in our homes and in our lives?
How well do we know the One we are to be following?

How serious are we?
We have been coasting for far too long.
Our Ballast is Jesus.
Our Hope is Jesus.

Sir, we would like to see Jesus.
Especially now with the shifting winds of culture, Jesus needs to be seen.
Jesus needs to be seen in our patience, our kindness, and our love.
Jesus needs to be seen in our fortitude, our courage, and our boldness.

Now is not the time to demean or insult those with whom we disagree.
Now is not the time to withdraw or retreat.
Now is the time to put on your armor and ready yourself.
Now is the time to trust in the Sovereignty of God.

This is the Church’s greatest hour.
We have been sleeping far too long, but no more.
Whoever serves Me must follow Me, Jesus said.
Where I am, My servant also will be.

The request.
We would like to see Jesus.
The question.
Are you ready?