Going For God: Our Daily Pursuit of Him
My body is not as flexible as it used to be. I see little children squat and stand effortlessly, bend and twist in all directions, and do endless somersaults and cartwheels as they play, and I wonder if I was ever that malleable. It takes more effort to do things that once came easily to me. Sadly, the news is not good. My golf swing will get shorter and my shoehorn longer. As we age our joints wear down, muscles tighten, and bones become more brittle.
Similarly, our faith can become more brittle as we grow older. We take fewer risks, embrace less change, and tend to live in the past. Our steps of faith turn into shuffles rather than leaps. This tendency is not limited to chronological age, however. I know many older believers who are young in faith and young believers who suffer early-onset spiritual arthritis.
When questioned about why his disciples were not fasting as often as John’s disciples, Jesus answered using two metaphors. A new patch sewn into an old garment will pull away from the old garment causing a greater tear, and new wine poured into old wineskins will cause the old wineskins to burst (Matthew 9:16-17). His point? God is doing something new and it will do you well to flex your faith to embrace it.
At every stage of life God is challenges us to flex our faith. Throughout scripture, from Abraham to Acts to Revelation, God calls his people to believe him for more. Paul’s personal theme and constant encouragement to the early church was “forget the things that are behind and strain toward what is ahead (Philippians 3:13).”
A.W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God. This classic of Christian book said this: “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”
I am inspired to be part of a ministry like Firstlight International with leaders like Dan and Debbie Ecker who are “straining toward what is ahead” as much as ever!
Flexing (my faith, that is),
~ Bill Ellis
