In my own personal faith journey, I got off to a good start spiritually. But by the time I was 14, I was satisfied to just attend worship. Later, there was a time when that dropped off completely. Like many people I thought I knew enough. Maybe you have been there or are there now. The stage of being lukewarm lasted for almost ten years. At the time I did not realize I was going backward and had little concern about God’s plans for my life. That is the danger of being lukewarm.
That all ended with God’s intervention. First, I lost my job which caused me to rethink what I was doing. For the first time going to church was a “want to,” not a “have to.” Three years later I was unharmed in a life-threatening car accident. I was a very blessed person to survive being broadsided by another vehicle traveling 70 mph. My thoughts after that accident was that “God is not done with me yet.” Little did I know that was a true statement.
I had set the stage at 14 for being lukewarm, which was not a good one. Through God’s intervention, it allowed me to set a different stage. One of ongoing growth in faith which I call the “Great Adventure.”
Revelation 3:17 would have summed up those lukewarm years of my life. 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.[1]
John 10:27 describes the next part of my life. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.[2] With God’s help I was able to hear His voice and begin to truly follow.
In our story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11, the people had set a stage of rebellion against God. When God told them to go right, they were going left. The Lord would intervene in their lives with tough love. God would get their attention by giving people different languages. Their plans of working together for evil were foiled.
What type of stage are you setting today? The good news is if you don’t like what stage you are setting for tomorrow, you can turn from your sins and turn to God. You can set a different stage, a stage that follows the voice of Jesus wherever that leads you. The Lord is so filled with joy when we turn from our sins and turn to Him there is a great celebration. Jesus says in Luke 15:10, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” [3]
To hear the story of the Tower of Babel listen here:
[1, 2, 3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Revelation 3:17, John 10:27, Luke 15:10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.