Revival Is The Price

 

An old farmer went to the big city hospital to visit a lifelong friend. After driving up to the front door of the building he was instructed that he would have to park in the parking lot next door. At the entrance his way was blocked by a gate. Not knowing what to do, an attendant assisted him in retrieving a ticket from the kiosk, whereupon the gate lifted immediately. He drove right in and parked his pick-up in the shade of a big tree. He had a nice visit with his friend, then returned to his pick-up and drove to the exit only to find another closed gate. The attendant in the little booth at the gate asked him for his ticket. Then he found out that it takes money to get the exit gate to lift up.

What happened in the parking lot is also true of sin. It is so easy to get in, but so hard to get out without paying a price. Read the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 - 12:23). The gate to sin opened easily, but David and those around him paid dearly in his resolute to exit what appeared on the surface to be a right of the king. Yes, the gate opens quickly and easily to that first cigarette, that first alcoholic beverage, or that first act of sexual immorality. A moment of pleasure could cost you “an arm and a leg” or a heart, or a lung. You could end up paying the maximum price – your life. Habits are so easy to get started but so difficult to break and do without. Satan’s message has always been, “Come on in! Don’t worry, you can pay me later.” Not only does he get it later, the cost to you is usually at a very high rate of interest.

[Galatians 6:7-8] “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” In Daniel chapter 5, we read about how a man was stripped of his blessings. The man’s name was Belshazzar, one of the rulers of ancient Babylon. This fellow was rich and powerful. As is often the case with those born rich, he was arrogant and irreligious. One night, Belshazzar was partying and getting drunk. He and his friends were profaning Jehovah God. Then a frightening event occurred. A hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall. It was a message of judgment. No one could read and understand the message but Daniel the prophet. Daniel told the king that he would lose everything because, “…you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified” (Daniel 5:23b). In the past year, due to the COVID-19 virus, people have died and many have lost their jobs and everything they have ever worked for. The economy nearly tanked. Retirement funds have depleted to almost nothing. We saw people act with mob mentality as they stockpiled anything from toilet paper to food and medicine. Make no mistake about it; the coronavirus is an evil thing. But, might I suggest that the Lord is using this virus to remind the irreligious of our nation (and the world) that He is still in control. The handwriting is on the wall: “You were rich and healthy and powerful, but you did not honor the God who gave you these blessings.” “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). I know that if our nation will turn back to God; then, He will bless us once again. Revolution is too costly and not a proper stance for today. Revival of God’s truth and obedience to His Word is the price we must pay to regain and maintain our freedoms as a Republic.