Colossians 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and
of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring
from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already
heard in the true message of the gospel
If you have ever visited Watkins Glen State Park in New
York State, you were likely astounded by the sheer beauty surrounding you.
Everything, from the gorge itself, to the plant life, to the numerous
waterfalls, to the plentiful pools, speaks of unsurpassed splendor. Geologists
call the park a "hanging valley". I think it should be called the
"Hanging Gardens" of New York State.
The numerous pools, created by rock and sand tumbling
through the fast moving waters, look so inviting. What better place could there
be to refresh yourself and enjoy summer to the fullest! Warning signs forbid
visitors from even contemplating such a thing, however. Hidden dangers have
cost the lives of more than one person who chose to ignore the warning. The
strong undertow can quickly turn your "safe haven" into a pool of
death.
Ironically, a railroad trestle spanning the top of
Watkins Glen until 1935, was washed out by an unforeseen flood. It would seem
that the warnings are warranted! That this "idealistic" garden is far
from being safe after all!
Nevertheless, on a hot summer's day, I can just imagine
myself relaxing in one of those pools. Though the consequences could be lethal,
they sure do look inviting!
But then, don't we routinely tend to relax in
surroundings that seem "idealistic" but are really lethal?
As believers, we tend to take comfort in the fact that we
attend church regularly, we get involved with church activities, and we receive
the reassurance that we are doing well. But are we really? Are we really
heading for heaven, or have we lost our true purpose? Has a strong undertow
caught us off guard and driven us away from our real hope?
If we are heading heavenward, why do we tend to
concentrate most of our attention on our puny, temporal existence? If we
believe we are saved, why don't we talk more about our Savior? More about
Heaven itself? If we pretend to be Christians, why are we not consumed with
spending time with our Lord? Why don't we put our energies into planning our
soon arrival in heaven?
Is it possible we have lost our hope?
So many of us go through life's ups and downs, getting
excited by the most mundane things, but becoming indifferent to talk about
Spiritual things. Have we lost our excitement at the prospect of spending
eternity with our Maker? Have we somehow wondered off the path?
Richard Wurmbrandt was persecuted in Romanian prisons for
years because of his faith. When he was finally released, he found shelter in
the Western World. His first remarks about North America were far from being
flattering: "You don't have communism here, you have something far worse.
You have materialism!"
Have we been lulled to sleep by the comforts of our
material world? Is this possibly why divorce rates, even among Christians, are
on the rise? Is this why so many lead defeated lives, even though Jesus has set
us free?
Is Jesus still our focus? Is He still the only One who
can excite us to the core? Is He the One we still long to spend time with? Has
something come between us? Have we been towed away from our Loved One by the
deadly undercurrents of our materialistic world? Is it any wonder that
depression has invaded our ranks? Have we completely lost our focus?
Don't relax in an environment that is filled with
dangers! Complacency is deadly! Our home is in heaven! Let's head that way!
Dear Lord, help us not lose our focus and get complacent
with the world around us. Protect us from the dangers that this world had to
offer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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