LIFELINE

   Quiet times, devotions, whatever you may have known this christian discipline as, was probly something most of us either struggled with or still do. A daily time in prayer and reading the Bible doesn’t exactly sound  all that exciting…especially for men.  And even more so when we don’t see our faith as a fight (fight of faith), as the fight of our lives. We are fighting for life, life to the full as John 10:10 states, this life that Jesus freely offers and that Satan is bent on stealing,  killing, and destroying in us.  

Do you think I have my quiet time  because it’s a nice  little christian thing to do?  No, not anymore at least. This journey we take is dangerous and there’s  so much at stake. I’m desperate. I need this. It’s my lifeline. The connection to God is my life, and the discipline of connecting regularly  is far more than my duty, my religious observance, but the only way I’ll get thru this alive, and to where I want to be. And not only me, but for those I love and care for and whose hearts I fight for.  This deep intimacy with Christ is everything I long for, and absolutely crucial.     

We’re in a war…Rome is burning as the saying goes!  How can we be having our nice little tea parties and merely practicing our proper christian disciplines, when all this drama and danger is unfolding around us,  when the lives of those we care about, and even our own, are being fought for.  Grab tight and hold on!  The discipline isn’t the end, it’s the means to an end, and  the end is victory, life and freedom.

We don’t  do this quiet time thing, and many men in particular won’t, for discipline sake,  or  merely because it’s the good christian’s duty,  but  just maybe for  life, and the lives of those we love and are fighting for. We’re fighting for our lives, and others, and we’re doomed without a strong connection to Christ, our Head. If we really got a handle on this, if we really saw things as they were, I don’t think we’d have to twist people’s arms or use guilt and whatever other formulas and techniques have been used in the church, to try and  get people, and men in particular, to force themselves to put in a bit of time to spend with God.  It’s almost  like we perceive it as medicine, not enjoyble, and certainly not tasty, but is somehow supposed to be good for us. This is life, this is unsearchable riches, this is the answer to the deepest longings of our hearts, and it’s being stolen from us, or at least those precious hearts all around us, and we need our arms twisted to get with God? We should be running, crying out, knocking on heaven’s door. I fear many of us have already been lulled to sleep, unaware of the treasure, the battle, and who and what is being fought for, and the price Christ paid for our freedom and life eternal.         

The New Testament writers keep urging us to hold on, to hold fast, to press on. This connection,  this intimacy is crucial and it’s the point. It is our lifeline. The discipline itself won’t save you. The formulas and techniques will certainly never be enough to see you thru to the battle’s end. It’s this deep connection to God, the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) that will. He is our Life, and the prayer, and study of His Word, and whatever other means we meet with Him, these are the lifeline.      

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~ by sealionrob on April 3, 2010.