The Stable and Salty
Just down the street from the main plot of land owned by the missionaries in El Salvador, stands an erect shell of a building, lifeless and unfinished. It stares down at the street below, a reminder of the danger of dreaming too big. On the side, spray painted in large white letters, is the name of the village: "Sitio Nuevo."
The family that was building this structure was forced to abandon it half finished, after being drained of their capital. In the excitement of reaching for something bigger, they forgot to prepare for any difficulties that may arise, and now have been forced to find a new dream.
The search for momentary happiness leads us down a dangerous path.
It's a tale told and retold in the lives of so many young Christians, men and women who embrace God with open arms, only to slowly walk the other way when met with opposition. The drying of shallow faith is not a new concept. Jesus spoke about it when he warned, "Other seed fell among the rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture... The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation" (Luke 8:6,13).
Sometimes, in our joy over hearing the voice of God, we forget to count up the cost before we agree to follow Him. We jump in with our whole hearts, thinking that this is all God asks of us. But we are called to serve God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind. We should stop to determine what we may give up to follow Christ, and then decide if we are willing to go.
Christ calls us to follow Him, but if we abandon are calling halfway, we are simply wasting our time. As Jesus put it, "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away" (Luke 14:34-35).
We are called to be salt in a world that has been stripped of its flavor. Our task is not easy, but if we take the time to consider the cost, we will realize many of the dangers before we come across them. I pray that when God calls, you hear His voice loud and clear. I pray that He grants you discernment to count up the cost. But finally, I pray that He grants you the wisdom, humility, and strength to admit that nothing we can build with our own hands compares with the plans He has laid before us. We have been given the blueprint to eternity.
The family that was building this structure was forced to abandon it half finished, after being drained of their capital. In the excitement of reaching for something bigger, they forgot to prepare for any difficulties that may arise, and now have been forced to find a new dream.
The search for momentary happiness leads us down a dangerous path.
It's a tale told and retold in the lives of so many young Christians, men and women who embrace God with open arms, only to slowly walk the other way when met with opposition. The drying of shallow faith is not a new concept. Jesus spoke about it when he warned, "Other seed fell among the rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture... The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation" (Luke 8:6,13).
Sometimes, in our joy over hearing the voice of God, we forget to count up the cost before we agree to follow Him. We jump in with our whole hearts, thinking that this is all God asks of us. But we are called to serve God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind. We should stop to determine what we may give up to follow Christ, and then decide if we are willing to go.
Christ calls us to follow Him, but if we abandon are calling halfway, we are simply wasting our time. As Jesus put it, "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away" (Luke 14:34-35).
We are called to be salt in a world that has been stripped of its flavor. Our task is not easy, but if we take the time to consider the cost, we will realize many of the dangers before we come across them. I pray that when God calls, you hear His voice loud and clear. I pray that He grants you discernment to count up the cost. But finally, I pray that He grants you the wisdom, humility, and strength to admit that nothing we can build with our own hands compares with the plans He has laid before us. We have been given the blueprint to eternity.
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