It is disturbing to see youth raised in church slowly withdraw from God during their senior year of school. It grieves me to watch the spiritual passion in veteran clergy fade into the shadows. These former spiritual leaders morph from being enthusiastic worshipers into being complainers with fragmented passion for God. They now prefer talking more about their past activities, hobbies, or relationships than about God’s continued enlightenment or the shaping of their spiritual lives.
This slow drift isn’t a recent pattern. The Old Testament king Hezekiah heroically began his reign as king of Judah, by turning the people from worshiping false gods to worshipping the only true God. However, by the middle of his reign, his own passion for God had regressed into a passion for himself and his many accomplishments. Was this decline, as some suggest, evidence of his faith was never real? Or was it a spiritual cancer that consumes his love for God and still destroys it in lives today?
The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, in chapter 4, of the Old Testament’s promise to the early Jews, to empower them and give them a supernatural rest. That promise excited the people for generations. However, among all the Hebrews who God miraculously delivered from their Egyptian bondage, only Joshua and Caleb and their families actually entered their promised land. That would be only two families out of millions who enjoyed God’s promise. The writer of that book revealed the reason and left a challenge to each reader through the generations. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2 (NIV) This means they heard and believed the message about the supernatural rest but died never experiencing it. Why? They didn’t mix their inner faith with the truth they heard. They only said they believed. Satan used disappointed expectations, giants in the land, and many distractions to rob them of what God had promised them.
Jesus prophesied more than once, all who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. John 14:23 (NLT2) Notice, He didn’t say they occasionally might do what I say. He said they will carefully watch over or guard themselves so they will conform to all Jesus taught. The Bible explains this birth of fervent desire is implanted when a person is spiritually regenerated. I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Ezekiel 36:27 (NLT2)
Note this. The desire to follow His regulations is NOT mental gymnastics or self-discipline issues! It’s acting upon the God-given desire implanted in one’s spirit to motivate one to carefully obey Him. With that gift and empowerment, He commands each of us to simply diligently seek to know Him through His Word, pray, and serve with the abilities you do have. In doing so, the Holy Spirit within you will make us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT2) Did you notice this transformation is a gradual process, not instantaneous?
Whether it is youth walking away or veteran clergy having only a shell of a passion for God, losing connection with God can happen to anyone who becomes passive. If you want to avoid this slow drift, you must honestly consider this. Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5a, GW)! If you find you have drifted away, ask the Holy Spirit to alert you to what has been distracting you from a close relationship with God. Then take the initiative to reposition yourself so you can again enjoy His close presence on a regular basis. Remember this axiom. Any dead fish can float downstream. It takes a live one to buck the current and swim upstream.