The Honeymoon Phase

We have all heard of the infamous 'honeymoon phase' of a relationship.  It's that exciting time right after you meet someone new, when you just can't get enough of them.  Your thoughts point toward that person frequently throughout the day.  You find yourself daydreaming about how good life would be with them.  This type of new couple tends to fawn over each other out in public.  You get the idea.  

According to a recent survey conducted by 'her magazine', this honeymoon period tends to last around 13 months ... give or take.  I've heard some estimates as high as one to three years.  But then, eventually, this euphoric period comes to an end.  It is at this point, that you are left with the real person - warts and all.  The cute little things they used to do when you first met them may now be extremely annoying.  You have awakened from the dream state of slumber, and reality has set in.  

When we discuss spiritual things, I can't help but think of what it's like to be a new Christian.  Everything is so new and exciting.  There is a thirst for Biblical knowledge and existential meaning.  All of a sudden, God shows us this realm of truth that we haven't yet experienced during any other time in our life. 

In some circles, they refer to these folks as 'Baby Christians.'  Though I find this term slightly derogatory, they are most definitely in the honeymoon stage with God.  He is often answering prayers, engaging peoples' hearts and minds, and showing them a whole new world.  Sometimes there is zeal without knowledge, and we might say or do things that offend other people during this time.  Often we cannot blame the baby Christian; they are new at this.  

I remember this phase of my own life.  It was like God gave me two years or so, in order that I might read and research all about Him.  I wasn't necessarily active in the church yet, just a seeker looking for answers.  What an exciting time to be alive!

But the question always looms in the background.  Do we stay Baby Christians forever ... or do we grow up and mature?  After all, the honeymoon stage can't last forever.  We should eventually graduate up to that next thing that God has in store for us.  

Hebrews 5:12 says this about the situation: "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food!"

True enough - we cannot stay infants for long; nor should we.  What the author of Hebrews was describing here is exactly what we should guard against.  When it is time for God to grow us, we need to move on to solid food.  We need to gain an understanding about what God has done in our lives, how we are to forgive other people, and the ways in which the Holy Spirit moves throughout the body of the church.

I once preached a sermon about knowing and understanding the 'Big Five' points of the Christian faith.  In that sermon, I touched on things like the resurrection of Jesus, the second coming, the Trinity, repentance, and the atonement for the forgiveness of sins.  All things that I believe a mature Christian needs to be thinking about and applying to their lives.  This is solid food, good for nurturing the soul and evangelizing other people.

But what do we find when we look inside some churches today?  Do we see mature Christians practicing humble repentance, forgiveness, and living in the Spirit?  This is hard to say.  We all know that one person who maybe exhibits these characteristics from that one church we went to a long, long time ago ... right?  But just think how wonderful it would be if we found this to be true most of the time, and in most churches. 

The stakes are high on this one.  In my opinion, it certainly appears that Jesus wants us to switch over to solid food as soon as possible.  According to the Bible, we are to seek his face and his guidance as we pursue the things of God.  We are to 'stay in the vine' as it were (John 15), because without Jesus, we can accomplish nothing.  Nothing that matters in the eternal sense, at any rate.  Money, houses, cars, and status will all be worthless by the time you and I pass away.  In fact, most likely they will be given to someone else after we are gone.  Let that sink in for a moment.

Scripture also says that the mature Christian should stand out in a crowd.  That we should be a lamp on a lamp stand, such that those around us may take notice of the light being generated.  But we dare not become arrogant, as this light is from God.  It was never just us; you know that, don't you?

May God continue to work in our day-to-day lives.  May He bless you and your family, and coax you gently into moving forward with your personal development.  I also pray that each of you reading this have the courage and forethought to recognize when He is leading you toward that plan.  The plan to mold us into disciples of the living Jesus (and not just followers).  A plan to prosper and grow us. 

If you are just beginning to explore God's truth, then relax and enjoy the ride.  In fact, I think God enjoys it also.  If you have been a practicing Christian for several years, then hopefully you are on solid food.  Milk and formula will only sustain us for a short while.  Sooner or later, we must all take a stab at sitting at the grown-up table.  The food is more flavorful there anyway.




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A Still, Small Voice

Who doesn't love a good Old Testament story from the Bible?  I remember one in particular about a prophet named Elijah. You may remember that he went to Mount Horeb (later called Mt. Sinai), to hide in a cave out of fear and desperation.  Something that I think many of us feel like doing from time to time. In this particular case, however, there was a death threat against him and all the prophets of God. He refused to commit idolatry and bow down to Jezebel's false god.  Worship of false gods and idols was very common in those days, and Elijah wasn't the only one affected.  He was the only one left still alive at this point, however, and so he was quite discouraged. 

1 Kings 19:11-13 says this, "Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

I think the first question we can ask from this passage is: what is our proverbial cave?  Where do you and I hide out? Are we too busy with too many extracurricular activities? Do we hide in a relationship, and bounce from mate to mate perhaps?  Or maybe we hide behind religion, attending every church service - but never praying or growing as a Christian. 

It isn't difficult to find a 'cave' every now and then.  An area of our lives where we feel like giving up, or simply running away.  The quintessential 'shelter in the storm.'  

But do we find time to talk to God regardless? To meditate on His Word? In other words, do we take time to listen for that still, small voice of the Lord?  Personally, I want to hear His voice; I never really get tired of it.  It always seems to have that same ring of truth to it.

I believe an example was set in my Bible study group at work years ago.  A collection of us met regularly during lunch, and each week it was someone else's turn to bring a piece of Scripture and a lesson.  A very rewarding experience I would add! 

As it happened, I worked with a lady that was caught in the 'wind and the earthquake and the fire' mentioned in the passage above, for most of her life. We will call her Kim (not her real name). It’s not her fault of course, things happened to her in her life that were out of her control.  Things that would lead any sane person to wonder if God was really up there.  Things that shouldn't be allowed or condoned in our society ... but yet they still occur. 

At one point during one of our lessons, Kim made the decision to accept Jesus and see what all the fuss was about.  We prayed a prayer asking God to come into her heart, and she was actually saved and born again right there in that small office.  You could feel the Holy Spirit in the air.  

I've lost track of Kim over the years, I hope she is doing well.  I hope that she has weathered all of those storms also, and that she continues to search out and learn about God.  Through the driving force of suffering and tragedy, Kim sought out a holy God.  A God who whispered in a still, small voice ... just loud enough for only her to hear.  She counts herself lucky, actually.  So is anyone who hears the voice of the Lord.



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