Have you ever tried to maintain something? We all have mountains and valleys. Life is full of ups and downs, left and rights. Keeping focused and moving toward the goal can be elusive. One of the most difficult things in life is to stay on track. How are we maintaining our Christian witness? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This past weekend some of us stepped away from our normal responsibilities and participated in the Wishes on Wheels Convoy to support the Make A Wish foundation. They asked us to begin the event with an invocation, asking for God’s presence and protection on the Police, Fire, First Responders, Tow truck drivers, Delivery drivers and all those connected with delivering, taking away and maintaining all the things we need to live life in our communities.
We also remembered two lives that were cut short by inattentive drivers. A Tow Truck driver was struck as he was loading a car and a Connecticut DOT worker who was struck while doing Highway maintenance. Both lives lost while making an effort to help maintain the life we have come to enjoy.
Beyond the lives of those who step into harm’s way each day as they traverse the highways and byways of our communities is the reason we gather, to give children who have had to face life-threatening challenges a mountaintop experience. One such child rode along in the pace car as we led the Convoy. This young lady was 4 years old and had already spent one quarter of her life in the Hospital. She rode along with her mom, and excitedly looked out the windows, listening to the siren and horns, the biggest smile stretched across her face. She was having a good day. At the end of the ride we had a small gift for her, A pink Hot Wheel Car, her face lit up as she clutched it. A good ending for this day at least. We know she will face other days that are more challenging and we lift her up in prayer along with all those Make A Wish kids facing uncertain futures.
Wishes on Wheels didn’t let the damp conditions cancel the day, after all, the trucks and drivers represented those who answered the call regardless of the weather. This all-volunteer organization celebrated their 27th year running the convoy. They have raised over 2.3 million dollars for Make a Wish. It is our pleasure to participate alongside so many dedicated servants just wanting to provide a Mountaintop experience for some young people who face a difficult journey in life.
Do you know what the secret of mountaintop living is? Change. We must be ever changing, ever adjusting, ever questioning, and evolving into the person we need to be in Christ. Complacency leads us into the valley.
The folks that succeed don’t sit tight and hold on. Those people succeed because they didn’t get complacent. In the middle of their success, they made the changes and learned the lessons necessary to maintain their position. In the end it helped them remain on the mountaintop.
Say what you will but the secret to staying focused is change, being willing to let God mold and shape us into the person He created us to be. When we think we have arrived. When we think we are good. When we think we have it all figured out. That is when complacency sets in. Life is a constant changing journey and if you want to live life to the fullest, change is a daily event.
We don’t want to change. We want to stay right where we are. We want to do what we want to do. The truth be told we don’t know or understand much. If we want the most life has to offer, true fulfillment and satisfaction, true success, we need to change.
Ephesians 4:17-24; With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Many people have tried to maintain the focus, the desire and determination to remain on the mountaintop. It proves elusive. Rigid, unchanging, self-serving is not the way you will experience life to the fullest. We must train ourselves to welcome change, being ever moldable and shapeable by God.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
No one races to lose. No one puts forth the effort and work to lose. We are looking for the combination that will help us climb the mountain. That only comes from God.
Philippians 4:12-13; I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
To maintain we must change, we must put forth the effort to move closer to God. That effort will change our priorities and the things we value. We cannot hope to get to the mountaintop if we are clutching the things we desire and want. We need to let go, loosen our grip and cling to God.
Change isn’t secure or comfortable. That is an easy way to know you are in God’s will, if you are uncomfortable and insecure you will need to rely on God. That reliance will give us hope and a future. A life better than we can attain with our own understanding.
I encourage us to let go and let God show you the most excellent way to live. Let Him guide us and teach us. Surrender our will to His. If we come to Him in humble submission He will receive us, change us and lead us to the mountaintop. He will make the changes necessary in our lives to maintain a life that reflects His character.
John 10:10; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Blessings,
Pastor Don