The crowd roared as the popular worship band exited the stage.
Hundreds had stood in response to the call to follow Jesus. They had come forward
to thunderous applause, some weeping, some bewildered, and joined the throng at
the foot of the stage. A member of the band led them in a group prayer and
volunteers tossed handfuls of gospel tracts over their heads. What a night!
Awesome music. Sensational testimonies. Hundreds responding to the message of
the kingdom.
But then they all went home. The excitement fizzled. Rush hour
traffic replaced the soaring harmonies. Overdue bills and hateful coworkers
pushed the thrill of that night into a hazy memory. The craving for sensual
pleasures overcame the flicker of spiritual longing, and many who had walked
forward for change now walked back to the world. Belonging to Jesus had seemed
so emotionally thrilling at the concert, but what was all this about obedience?
Mountaintop expectations began to resemble humility and self-sacrifice.
Disillusionment set in. They hadn’t really listened to the part about lordship,
self-denial, or endurance, and after a few weeks it was clear that the response
for many had been to the rush of adrenaline, not the Holy Spirit. Like seeds planted
in rocky soil, they sprouted quickly but would never grow because there was no
root to sustain them.
Have you said
“yes” to a rush of adrenaline or “yes” to the lordship of Jesus?
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