Revival.
I was pumping gas at the local station on this foggy, felt-like-I-should-be-in-London-walking-dimly-lit-kobblestone-streets-with-Lewis-and-Tolkien, kind of morning. Sometimes the least inspiring circumstances yield to beautiful moments with Jesus. This was one of those. As I stood holding the fuel nozzle, I was reminded of how hard it has been to be in this place. It has now been over four years since God placed a burden on my heart to relocate our family from the beautiful Pacific Northwest to the land-locked rolling hills of middle Tennessee. Only one word the Lord spoke to me back when I was processing through whether to really make this move. That word was “strategy”. In a way that only God could convince a man, we moved, partly leaning on faith and partly leaning on foolishness. I could write much about the early days (Note to self: good idea for future book inclusion) but for now I want to share a brief thought on what God showed me this morning.
Keep in mind, this all happened in a matter of minutes. God doesn’t need excess time to drive a powerful point home to our hearts. Irritating thoughts were flashing through my mind, all those things that either irk me or that I still really wrestle with in living here in the south. They went something like: Bible-belt religion (of which Nashville is considered the “buckle”). Rednecks. Racism. An industry built on the backs of mostly impoverished and under-nourished Christian artists and my distaste for the very idea (and yet Jesus is always calling out to each of us, “Repentance! Reform! Renewal! Hope!”). Southern religion – a powerless Gospel built on the traditions of men rather than on the truth of God. As you can see, I was having a moment. Negative thoughts, complaining like Jonah. My conversation went like this: “God, why am I here? Why did You bring us all the way down here? I don’t like this place! There are more churches than anywhere I’ve ever been, do you really need more Christians here? Can’t You just relocate us somewhere else? A place where the Gospel is still rare and not yet defiled by “religion”?” Hopefully you get the point. I wasn’t exactly rejoicing always as Paul instructs me to. I was straight-up complaining and griping.
The thoughts above all came to me in a matter of seconds. As they all passed by, I felt the still small voice call out to me, “This is why you are here.” Then I turned my head away from the busy street corner, as though God were re-directing my eyes, to a large sign in front of a small strip mall that I had seen many times before. It was the name of an antique-restoration store: “Revival.” I fixed my gaze on that sign. It was mostly light green with big brown words, Revival. Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit speak to you in such an unexpected way? Instantly I felt like I was both standing about 6 inches tall for the weight of this Heavenly rebuke, yet I was at the same time built up 60 feet tall in my heart. Fear/insecurity/confusion – instantly leveled! Faith/confidence/perseverance/ – built up in me with the snap of mighty fingers. Revival is why I am here. Why the price my family has paid, and will likely continue to pay, is well worth any inconvenience we may put up with. Jesus, help me/us not to be so selfish and self-centered. Forgive me!
Revival, in my opinion, is defined as living daily surrendered to Jesus for the glory of God through the Holy Spirit’s power. Craving an intimately-crafted relationship with Jesus ahead of any competing treasures. Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that everything else will be added in the end.
I’m not looking for revival. Large tents, stadiums overflowing to the brinks, better songs, greater church attendance. All good things, and all potentially a distraction from simple encounters with God for who He is, regardless of what is happening around us. I hope you aren’t looking for the next revival or even the sounds it may make. Revival is already here, and has been for quite some time. The fact that we don’t see it with our natural eyes does not negate the price Jesus paid at Calvary for revived living as a normal state of desperate men seeking a loving God. Revival began 2,000 years ago. Jesus has not changed. Open your heart wide to what Jesus aims to pour in. Allow the Holy Spirit to help pour you out.
For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. – 1 Corinthians 4:20
We are living.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27
Thanks for the encouragement Godbless