Changing With the Times

            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            There were very few cars in the parking lot, and inside the lodge was dimly lit with outdated furniture and carpet.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.  

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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?