The headline said,”Massive drought in U.S. Midwest sends global crop prices soaring”. The article then proceeds to paint a bleak picture. We, of course, already knew this. Unless you’re living under a rock without access to the media you know what’s happening. You also know that, although concerned, you can’t change or control the circumstances. It is what it is and we have to deal with it.

There is, however, a drought of a different sort that should trouble us even more. I’m talking about a spiritual drought, our need for revival. I won’t elaborate, but this drought could very well be the cause of the other. Since “the LORD hath his way in the whirl-wind and in the storm”(Nah. 1:3) it is no stretch of the imagination to connect our current situation to divine providence. God has His finger in everything. Nothing happens that He does not cause or allow. Yeah I know, you’ve got some questions–get in line. I’m just giving you the facts. God will have to answer your questions.

I’m not going into a lot of detail and bore you with statistics, but I do want to remind you that all the major Christian denominations are in a state of decline–Hello Europe,”Here we come”. Church leaders are frantic and the so called “experts” are banging their heads against the wall trying to come up with an explanation and solution to stop the bleeding. In their answers you hear just about everything. Some, as the kids say, leave you ROTFL. But this isn’t funny.

Now you can think as you please, but there can be no denying of the fact that interest in the Bible, church, and the Christian disciplines are waning. The average person simply has other things on their mind. I don’t think I am exaggerating one bit when I say, the need for revival has never been greater and interest in it has never been less. The fact that a shocking number of churches are closing everyday doesn’t seen to bother people at all. The decline in professions of faith, baptisms, church attendance, giving, and men surrendering to the ministry doesn’t seen to trouble anyone anymore. You just got to wonder,”What will it take”. I think I know, but I don’t like to think about it!

Well they say,”Its darkest before the dawn”, so maybe there is hope. It just might be that if it keeps getting worse it will finally get better. Do I need to remind you how painful that will be? I understand very well that God alone can send revival, but I also know that it is conditional. Until God’s people turn to Him with their whole heart there is no chance for it. One thing is sure–we can’t keep doing business as usual and expect thing to get better. It doesn’t work that way. This is how it works: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”–2 Chron.7:14.

I know, you’ve heard that verse a thousand times before, but what have you done about it? This verse reminds us that we are wicked, our land is sick, and God is able and willing to heal. Just like ancient Israel, we have a choice. We can seek God and live or seek only to please self and die. It is our choice. I’m going to pray–right now! What are you going to do? Think about it!

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his
own reward according to his own labour.–1 Cor. 3:8

Christians often spend a lot of time bickering among themselves without ever getting
to the real root of the problem. This story by Dr. Bob Griffin helps us put things in the
proper perspective:

Walking through the forest, a seasoned hiker came upon a broad, slowly
moving river. He stopped to gaze over the waters, appreciating the beauty,
when suddenly he heard a faint cry coming from upstream. Looking in the
direction of the noise, he saw an obviously drowning man floundering in the
river and drifting slowly toward him.

The hiker was stunned momentarily, but he sprang into action when he saw the
man disappear beneath the waters. Throwing off all of his cumbersome gear,
he dove into the river and swam like a madman toward the spot where the man
went under.

Upon reaching the spot he plunged below the surface and frantically hauled
up the helpless man. He then laboriously towed the victim to shore. Heaving
the lifeless body up on the riverbank, the hiker attempted to revive the
man, who eventually spit up water and began to breathe.

Relieved, the hiker paused to catch his breath. But no sooner had he done so
than he heard another voice out on the water. Another drowning person! Once
again he swam out and pulled the person to shore, a little more slowly this
time. As the hiker-turned lifeguard revived the second victim, he heard yet
another cry for help.

All day long the hiker worked, rescuing one person after another as they
came drifting down the river. There seemed to be no end of drowning victims,
and the hiker didn’t think he could keep it up.

Just when he was about to collapse from exhaustion, he spotted another man
walking rapidly beside the river, headed upstream. “Hey mister!” he cried
out. “Please help me! These poor people are drowning!” Amazingly, the man
kept walking upstream. The astonished hiker called out again. Without even
acknowledging the cry, the man kept going. Indignant and angry, the hiker
leapt to his feet, ran toward the seemingly uncompassionate man, stood
directly in his path, and in a loud voice demanded, “Sir! How can you
possibly walk past all these drowning people? Have you no conscience? Must I
force you to help me save these people?”

The stranger stopped, looked at him for the first time and said with a calm,
focused voice, “Sir, please get out of my way. I am headed upstream to stop
the guy who is pushing all these people in.”

Each of us has a role to play in rescuing those who are drowning in sin. The
important part is that we DO the work God called us to do. Of course, GOD
does the work in hearts, but we all have gifts to help us minister in His
name. Some of us pull people from the water and resuscitate them with
counseling, food and shelter, a rehabilitation program, a support group, or
financial aid. Others of us find our place of ministry upstream, opposing
the one pushing people into the river. We do this by introducing those
people to Jesus Christ, knowing Christ sets a person free from sin and
releases them from Satan’s power over them. By itself, pulling people from
the water isn’t enough. We need God to free people from sin, dealing with
the problem of sin at its source.–THINK ABOUT IT!

I just read the sad story of Mike Aus, pastor of “Theophilus Church” in Katy, TX. Seems that Mr. Aus surprised his congregation Sunday when he appeared on MSNBC and announced that he has become an atheist. The effect was immediate — a few weeks later the church dissolved. The fact that he surprised his congregation with this news on national TV without talking to them first tells me a lot about this man’s character. No well- mannered, decent person would ever be so inconsiderate as to do that. But the response of the church also tells me something about the people who make it up. Their faith is misplaced.

I’m not going to waste your time by quoting this man’s foolish remarks. He has received too much attention already. Isn’t it strange how a fallen star gets our attention, while millions of others remain faithful in their orbit? You shouldn’t assume that the world is coming to an end because one star fell. Neither should you get all up tight because of news such as this. It shouldn’t surprise us at all. He is an unbeliever — most people are.

While it is indeed sad that this man is so confused, it should not rock your world. Why should his doubt lead to your despair? Things like this happen. This wasn’t the first such case and it won’t be the last. Men fail us often—Christ never! Think about it!