Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith.
1 Timothy 1:18-19
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? If you don't remember that famous line, Google it. Here's a more important question. How many steps in the wrong direction does it take to shipwreck your faith? They say that every journey begins with the first step. That's really all it takes. One step.
One of the greatest pastors I've ever known ended up on the rocks. Friendship became a look. A look became a thought. A thought became adultery. His downfall didn't begin when he and the other man's wife disrobed, or even when friendship became flirtation. It began when he isolated himself from relationships that would have provided accountability.
One of the wisest women found her ship stuck on the beach. She was so confident in God, but began to worry about her business. Worry became fear. Fear became workaholism. She withdrew from God and the people of God. She worked harder and harder, and one day this paragon of faith confided, "Some days I wonder if there even is a God."
There were two others. You should have seen them. Every moment of every day they were either discipling their families, serving their church, sharing their faith, praying to their God, or reading His Word. One had a lukewarm wife who wanted more and more of the world. The other one had a friend he was trying to win to Christ. Working to please the spouse and compromising to keep a friendship got them. Both say they still believe, but you won't find them wearing out their Bible's today. You won't find them wearing out a pew, either.
The stories are so numerous. You have probably found yourself occasionally stuck on the sand, just like I have. There's one more I want to relate, because it's a warning to those of us who think we're still doing well. She's always been passionate and intense about the Lord. She still prays, reads, teaches and serves in her church, but, oh my soul, is she bitter. It's hard to believe she loves Jesus, because she clearly does not love His people. Passion for God is essential, but so is love. Passion without love becomes bitterness, and bitterness bites. Somewhere along the way she took a step, stopped being an encourager, and became an enforcer. She's shipwrecked, but blames the people in her church who aren't doing what they should.
So, what's the first step to ruin? Is it adultery, unbelief, workaholism, compromise, bitterness? The first step to is any step that takes us anywhere that Jesus isn't going. And, the first step off the rocks is the one that is toward Christ. John recorded the words of Jesus to the church at Ephesus, "But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen, repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Rev. 1:4-5)
Don't expect God to refresh your passion for Him there on the beach. He doesn't bless drifting. Don't expect to be passionate about Him again while you're drinking the lukewarm milk of the world. Repent, then do what you used to do. The passion for Christ will return only if you don't keep walking where you're walking. Do the first things. Prioritize prayer, reading, studying and hearing the Word of God, serving your local church, and making disciples. The passion and peace will return once you have, because you will have returned to the source.
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