Drifting Away Again

What a way to start the week! Thank you, God, for giving us great times of worship on Sunday at Southside and Monday at FBC Hartselle. The choirs were fantastic, and the message by Dr. Frank Lewis from FBC Nashville was right on target. He used the illustration of whitewater rafting to describe the Christian life. I wish I could remember all of his points, but here are just a few:

• If you always listen to your guide, you will make it through safely. The guide knows where all the dangerous spots are. Sometimes he leads you through them; sometimes he leads you around them.
• When you stop paddling and start drifting, you are in trouble because you never drift upstream.
• The longer you drift, the faster you drift and the harder it is to get back to where you need to be.

For the Christian, our Guide is the Holy Spirit. If we would make it a practice to listen to Him, He will always lead us safely home. But too many times, we don't listen. Too many times, we stop paddling and allow ourselves to drift. How do we do that? By not spending time with our Heavenly Father through prayer and Bible study. By not witnessing and worshiping. By not giving of our time, talents, and tithes. It starts slowly, but as we drift, we never drift closer to God -- only farther away. The longer we drift, the faster we move away from God. And the only way back is to "paddle" harder, but it is well worth the effort when you can get back in the raft.

Understand, it wasn't a typical "revival" sermon, but it is exactly what needs to happen if the church is ever going to experience the kind of Spiritual Awakening we so desperately need. So, dear Lord, help us all to keep paddling.