I want to unpack more of Nathan’s message from this past weekend. I left off on Thursday by telling you that if you’re not on the right path, you have to get in CRISIS mode and do something about it. What is a crisis? It is “A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger; a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.” Did you catch that last part about making an important decision? You have to decide if you’re all in for God. He wants all or none of you!
Nathan reminded the church to keep INERTIA in mind: “An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by another force.” If you can’t get yourself in a kind of crisis (I must do something about myself) mode, then you’re going to stay right where you’re at. You have to take action (and be willing to let God push you forward) in order to have a bright future. Even if you’re in an okay place right now, you could be in an even better place in five years. What’s holding you back from moving forward? Could it be APATHY? Apathy can be defined as: “Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” Ask God to renew your heart and mind! You’re not going to get anywhere in life if you’re apathetic.
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (Romans 7:15, NLT). Do you find yourself in this position? You want to better yourself for God’s glory, but you keep walking in sin? In order to be all in for God, you have to be faithful to Him at all times. Galatians 6:9 tells you to never grow weary of doing good.
If you don’t seem to be going anywhere, make your lack of a crisis a crisis. Don’t be okay with just okay. Nathan told the story of Elijah and Elisha. 2 Kings 2:1-15 is a great example of getting in an appropriate crisis mode and taking care of the future: “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied” (NIV). Elisha wanted more of the good that God had placed in his life. This is the key to being in the right place five years down the road—desire to do twice as much for God as you’re doing now!