While
vacationing in Colorado, I walked by an old mountain lodge. It looked drab and
grey compared to the vibrant greens of the surrounding trees and mountains. It
was 40 years old and in desperate need of a facelift, or at least a little
paint and remodel. In its prime I’m sure it was big and beautiful. It was
exclusive and a novelty to have a ‘resort lodge’ in the area, where there were
mainly small mountain cabins.
There
were very few cars in the parking lot, and inside the lodge was dimly lit with
outdated furniture and carpet. Walking through the halls reminded me of the
movie Titanic. When the older woman
looks at the wreckage of the ship, her mind takes her back to the grandeur of it
during its inaugural voyage. She could see the opulence and beauty of the ship
with wealthy passengers dancing to the music. I could imagine the resort lodge like
that in its more popular hay day.
At
one time this lodge was big and beautiful and unique in this mountain town. It
seems, however, that it decided to stay there. Had it changed and updated and
painted as the years went by, it could still be big and beautiful. Instead, it
is old and grey.
It
reminded me of our Christian walk. Many of us have had a Titanic time, where in the hay day of our walk with God, we found
salvation and were excited about our new journey. Or maybe there was a
spiritual revival or mountain top experience where we felt the love of God in
an amazing way and promised to follow Him all of our days.
But,
like the old lodge, we can’t stay in that time and place. We need to
continue filling our souls with the newness of studying His Word, praising Him
with new songs, as the Bible says, and serving as the hands and feet of Jesus
in our ever changing culture.
One
of the tenants of the Bible is that God never changes. The Bible says He is the
same yesterday, today and tomorrow. However, our walk with Him should change. The longer we walk with Him, the
better we know Him. The more we pray, the more powerful our prayers become. As
we allow the Holy Spirit to change us and make us more like His Son, our light
should be shining brighter.
I
am glad there are plans to refurbish the old mountain lodge. Because just like us, there is plenty of
life and purpose left in it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Are you still living in the
memory of your mountain top experience? Or are you pursuing God with a vibrant
passion that keeps your walk with him new and fresh?
