As you first sit down on the bike...slowly turn the switch to ignition and then fire it up...you are overwhelmed. The sound hits you like an unstoppable force...you're pretty sure the earth has tilted off it's axis just slightly but at the same time everything in the universe has reached a state of utter perfection...to make for a perfect day.
When you hit the streets the sound let's loose it's fury on those unfortunate (or fortunate) enough to be within a 5 mile radius..THEN, you've really hit the road. Around mile 50 something happens. You don't notice it anymore. It's still there....the sound hasn't lessened...it just doesn't grab you the way it did when you first welcomed it. Sure, you have times that it becomes obvious...going through tunnels or through a city with longing eyes following the thunder...Being immersed or drowning in the sound has created a level of comfort and almost complacency to what 50 miles ago was jaw dropping.
Getting home last night from a wonderful day and being able to have some wonderful conversation with my wife, brought the thunder back to my mind...but with a little bit of a different emphasis.
What in my life...that at one time was jaw dropping...have I drowned in to the point of letting it be okay. No longer noticeable... As much as I enjoy the sound of thunder pipes...there is so much other noise...or visuals...or heart attitudes that blare their thunderous voices that seem to go through my life unnoticed...where at one time they we're jaw dropping in their taintedness they have become normal and a regular part of life.
There is a tension that exists within the heart of every believer... This tension is strung between the oppression of legalism and the out of control tendencies of liberty. We know a couple of things...It is for freedom that Christ set us free. We also know that in our freedom we are not to sin. Both are in the bible...both create a tension. Am I free to do this over here...or should I not do it because it leads me to sin...whether through thought or action.
It all comes down to one thing. THE HEART. Why do I say that? In the Jewish culture the heart was considered the center of one's being. Everything flowed from that place. The bible tells us that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The heart is that place that intertwines with the Holy spirit of God...convictions are found in the heart...attitudes are found in the heart...thoughts flow from the heart...my heart is what I've given to Christ... my heart is what I give to the world. Unfortunately...yes...the world still finds ways to get into my heart. How? I let it in. It may start off as jaw dropping...thunderous...but let enough in and around mile 50...it just all blends together.
I want my heart to focus on what matters to God. I want my heart to focus on all of the good that flows out of an incredible...loving creator. It's not boring...it's pretty darn fun. God created fun so He knows how to have a good time (ever seen Hurricane ridge from a Harley???). What I don't want is to entertain myself...or unwind with the things that Christ died for.
I have for years liberally talked about my favorite movie. Braveheart. It's an impassioned story of a man's drive to set free an entire nation of oppressed people...and do whatever it takes to make it happen. Great story...I've seen the movie countless times...and watched a man sleep with someone who was not his wife...language that is something that I wouldn't say to my kids or anyone else...and the severing of so many limbs that I still grimace when I see it. It's a beautiful story...with so much brokenness...so much garbage...so much stuff that nailed Christ to the cross packaged together for me as entertainment...and I've drowned in it...and somehow said it's all OK...because I'm free...right?
It's not an issue of being a goody too shoes...it's not an issue of legalism...it's an issue of love and my heart. I want to love Jesus so much that nothing gets in the way of that love. I want to love Jesus so much that nothing gets in the way of Him being able to use me and love other's through me.
I guess the question I have for you...what are you drowning in? What do you justify in the name of freedom only to let your heart be saturated by things that were never supposed to take up residence there? Is it a popular movie right now? Is it a video game? Is it a type of joking or conversation? I don't know what it is for you...I only know what it is for me. I guess I find myself at mile 50...and all of a sudden I've noticed the rumble again. How about you?
Philippians 4:8 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
I have thought about the heart, lately. The intent of the heart needs to be known. When that is known, than others can respond correctly. Otherwise, if the intend is not known, how do others react, good or bad?
ReplyDeleteI want to be known for serving others. There is no other good reason to live.
Yard work requires moving dirt and plants, but I see no eternal value, unless it is the time that I spend introspecting, and crying out to God. Why can I not do that during the day? It is because other things require engagement of the mind, gardening does not.
For me the thunderous sounds are what i allow the enemy to say to me in my head and just let it happen...I need to have the confidence and Boldness to pray agianst it in Jesus name...I know what i need to do but cower and don't do it...I know that there is Power in prayer i just need to come to a place and believe that it's there for me and and not be afraid.
ReplyDeleteI need to Trust God and learn to surrender my hurts...pain..fear & anxiety to God and allow Him to pull the weeds and roots that have been there way to long & be in His Word & get to know Him more.
I want to be a confident..joyful woman in Christ so i can bless others and be used by God thru my brokeness even if i don't feel i have anything to offer...but i can do all things thru him who will give me the strength.
Why is prayer and intimacy with God soooo scary. It always turns out wonderful and makes life and the heart full. It may be the anticipation of something God calls us to do, but not knowing or not willing to hear the next step. If we listened mor, perhaps the next step would be easier to hear and take.
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