Do You Feel It?

by Charles G. Scott

Do you feel it? Speed. Faster and faster things are accelerating. The turbulence, the quickened pace, the sense of urgency, the compulsive drive—the swirl of speed is becoming more and more a part of life. Technology makes conversation a constant companion. Globalization puts news events in our face around the clock. It never stops: read this, text them, get here, call back, go there, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, video on Vine, upload this, download that . . . where does it stop?

The truth is: Action creates results. 

There must be a sense of taking action in order to produce desired results. Action is the test of words. Alertness, a sense of urgency, movement must override complacency. The arrogance that says action is not needed in order to create desired outcomes borders on insanity. In the words of Bishop Jerry Macklin, “Nothing changes until something changes.”

The truth is: Spiritual transformation takes time. 

Results do not always come quickly. In the fast pace of life, with its ever demanding rapidity of amped addiction to the stimulus of speed, results are demanded and expected at a faster pace. But eternal results come at a slower pace. The question before Christ-followers each day is not, “What can I accomplish today?” But instead, “What is eternally important that I must accomplish today?

Jesus impacted culture by declaring, “The kingdom of God is near” (Mark 1:15, NIV).  The urgent cultural issue of the day was freedom from Roman oppression. The issue that needed addressed was deliverance from a broken religious system. The average Hebrew was content to clog his calendar with normal religious chores that added nothing to the needed area of action. Sacrifice a lamb. Kill a dove. Give a tithe. Say a prayer. Memorize a saying of Moses. Listen to a sermon. Sing a top 40 hit of King David— that guy had some great tunes!

Jesus came to change the world and instill a sense of urgency in His disciples to do the same. Two thousand years after His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus is still doing the same thing—changing the world. It may be the world of a construction worker or a housewife. It may be the world of an addict or a junkie. It may be the world of a broken heart or that of a shattered dream. 

Do you feel it? The incessant drive to change the world? It will take action, but it will require time. Get busy, but don’t watch the clock. Don’t get discouraged if the results come slow. It’s not email; it’s eternity. It will take time, but at least we can start by seeing eye to eye.