"Hard choice! The desire
to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of
nothing better." (Phil 1:23 The Message)
When we were young we used to have an ardent desire
for a better future. We were looking forward to a job that would make a
difference, adventure, and a spouse that we would ardently love till the end of
our days. What happened to us? Where did our desires go?
During our trek to the Purakaunui Falls in the Catlins
in the southern South Island of New Zealand, we were mesmerized by the
surrounding vegetation, especially what I called the giant tree palms. I had
never seen anything like them! Locally these
are
called the Mamaku, or black tree fern. It generally grows up to 20 meters, with
branches spreading up to 7 meters.
Why were these not mentioned in tourist books? And why
did the other tourists zip through the forest without even noticing these
giants?
Some friends we met from Singapore had a similar
experience. The mother stopped to admire every Mamaku, while the young people,
seeing nothing special, spent their time urging her to hurry on!
Have we lost our ability to notice the hidden beauties
around us? Have we lost our sense of passion and desire?
I am shocked by the level of numbness that most of us
have conditioned ourselves to live with. Have you noticed how many marriages
have lost their passion, their hidden glory? We've learned to live with our
spouse in such a way that we don't get in each other's nerves. Now it's good to
not get on your spouse's nerves, but unfortunately, this often leads to the
death of passion. What is even more scary is that we don't do anything about it!
Intimacy has been exchanged for an attitude of "let's just get by", and for some
reason, we are satisfied with this!
Our dreams to transform the world into a better place
have been replaced, along with our sense of adventure, with booze, overtaxed
cancer sticks, or a career where our dreams of making a difference are
transformed into rushing around, trying to shorten the "to do" list.
Friends, we were created in the image of God, and deep
down we still carry that seed of desire: Desire for true intimacy, desire for
real adventure. We won't ever fulfill our dreams by just getting by. We won't
even fulfill them by treading on forbidden ground! Instead of a real vacation at
the ocean, we have allowed ourselves for far too long to be satisfied with
making mud pies in the back yard! We are so easily appeased by our mundane
attitudes that we haven't even noticed the clams of sin that have taken hold of
our lives! It's time we wake up! It's time we restimulate our hunger for the
real thing! It's time we examine our motives, our goals, and our true purpose in
life! This may be painful, but the reward will be out-of-this-world!
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ
will shine on you." (Eph 5:14 NIV)
All of our ardent desires can only be truly fulfilled
by the One who willingly sacrificed Himself so that we can fulfill our wildest
dream: Eternity! Real adventure and profound intimacy that will thrill us to the
core await us. We can say "good-bye" to the dull life, "good riddance" to the
addictions, and "Welcome" to the Kingdom of God!
"The thief (The evil one) comes only to steal and kill
and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
(John 10:10 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.