How Long Could This Possibly Last?
I was thinking a lot about the word “religion” and how easily it is for believers, Christians just to be more specific to get caught up in the idea of religion and faith that you lose the meaning all together. I have this bad habit (just like all of us do I’m sure :D), but I fall in love easily with “ideas of things”. What I mean is that, for example, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of doing a triathlon, only to find out that in order to become successful in triathlon training I’d need to dedicate my entire being to the values and everything else that is a part of being a triathlete. What I’m getting at is that there are tons of believers out there who fall “in and out of the faith”… and I guess my question is why?
Reading through the book of Acts, I came across an easily overlooked story in the midst of all the miracles and works of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 5, this guy named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, a man involved in the council that held Peter and John as prisoners, comes forward to talk to the council. At this moment in Acts, the council becomes angry at the preaching and teaching coming from Peter and John so much so that the passage says that they were “cut to the quick and intended to kill them.” But this man Gamaliel, begins to start sharing stories of movements and leaders of movements before Peter and John, and in every single circumstance these leaders caused a ruckus and tension with the council. But when the leaders had died and passed away their movements went with them. In one stunning statement, Gamaliel says this…
“So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (ACTS 5:38-39)
Is your faith founded on just a movement, something temporary, something other than God? If it is, it won’t last… I can promise you that. When we talk about being Christian, everything that we do, if it isn’t fueled by our relationship with God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, how long can we possibly hope the footprints of “faith” that we leave behind will last?
If our plan or action is of men… it will be overthrown…
If our plan or action is of God… we will not be overthrown…
Doesn’t this just stimulate a burning in your heart to continue to ask God continually,
“is this where you want me to be, and is this what you want me to be doing?”
