INTENSE

INTENSE

                With unsnapped chinstraps, the field goal team, getting ready for OT play, since the FG attempt was short, watched the fleet-footed, freshman return-man dash three-peat National Championship Title hopes.  The hungry outran the satisfied, complacent, entitled?!  Winning is often more about heart than ability.  The 2013 team was not the 2011 team, nor even the 2012 team, in terms of intensity.  The look of Nick Saban, on the side-line, was somewhere between disappointment and disgust.  How do you keep up the intensity?  How does one keep the focus?  The 2013 team had not found the answer.

                Consider our western culture.  Worse, consider our western churches!  Where does the hunger go?  How did the heart cool?  Intensity fades.  Focus is lost.  Look into your own heart!  It is time for serious and sober self-examination.  Maybe I am speaking only to myself?  Maybe I am only “projecting”?   But, the room seems to be getting cold?!

                In the Apocalypse (Revelation) we are warned of luke-warmness and of lost-love.  “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16 - RSV) and  “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Rev. 2:4 - RSV)  We need to crave, hunger, desire passionately.  We must plead with God to rekindle the fire.

                Jesus warns that a heart cannot contain two loves – it’s God or gold; NOT both!   “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matt. 6:24 - NIV)  Other desires shove out God, whether be the desires what we see, what we feel, or worse, prideful goals and drives.  ¹⁵ Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.  ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].  ¹⁷ And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.  (1 John 2 - AMP)  The glitter of this fallen world overshadows visions of paradise.  What feels good replaces what is good.  Pride replaces humility.  And, the results are ugly.

                What to do?!  Do we call on heaven to cast out the demons, and then fill the house with His glory?!  Or, do we fill the house with American idols?  We must pursue what is excellent, not settle for what is not bad.  ⁴³ “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” (Matt.12:43-45 - NASB)  Consider this --  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”  (Col.3:1-3 - RSV)  And,  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  (Phil.4:8 - KJV)

                It seems to me that a good part of the war is in the mind.  What are we thinking about?  What are we dreaming about?  What are our goals?  Who are our heroes?  We need to soar with the eagles, everyday!  The intensity of the eagle’s eye is frightening.  He is always watching, always ready, always …!!   God wants eagles.

                What is “the process”?  (we hear a lot about this, in this state)  IMHO, grace leads to greatness.  “  ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:46-48 - RSV)  Make no mistake; we are saved by faith, not focus.  But, we have been given a second chance for the championship.  It is time to win.