Apathy is the stuff of failure. It is a brother to laziness and indifference. It aids in the destruction of empires and destroys families. It kills in so many ways. And this picture is the perfect representation of its nature. Do nothing, care for nothing and nothing will happen, right? No, not on your life!!! What happens is that what you have slowly disintegrates. Slowly, inexorably, what is important to you wears away. Then, something happens and BANG, you have nothing at all. I wonder, could this happen to Christianity? Read on and see...
WEB: Revelation of John Chapter 3:14-22
[14] “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
[15] “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. [21] He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”"
In spite of the impression the media gives, The United States of America is a great nation. People who work hard will eventually do well in life. Doubt that, then read about Herman Cain. But, something HAS changed in our country and that is our ability to be responsible for ourselves. The current mindset is that the government will care for us; that it knows best and we don't have to be concerned about anything at all. Big brother is always there, right? Maybe and maybe NOT!!! When the money runs out, then what? In fact, some say that it already has!!! This isn't pie in the sky; its real world stuff and unless something drastic happens, 2012 really may be a year of disaster. If this is true in the physical realm, what about the spiritual? We hear every day about the inroads the godless are making. How, God is being systematically, deliberately removed from every aspect of our culture and yet where are the protests, where are the demonstrators in FAVOR of Christianity? Where are those who will fight the good SPIRITUAL FIGHT? Apathy rules. Jesus speaks to those who were "well off" in Laodicea and warns them to repent (change). The truth is America needs to listen to this and I mean REALLY LISTEN!!!! Think you can do nothing? Wrong, you can pray and pray and pray some more. God will listen; I know, HE has answered prayers in ways that I can not even begin to describe. What to do AFTER prayer? The answer is; what ever is before you. Consider Nehemiah...
WEB: Nehemiah Chapter 2:1-5
[1] It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. [2] The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.”
Then I was very much afraid. [3] I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”
[4] Then the king said to me, “For what do you make request?”
So I prayed to the God of heaven. [5] I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”
Prayer and action; the cure for apathy. Think it won't work? Reread Nehemiah 2:1-5. Think you can't do something, then you haven't prayed enough. Feel like your are too timid or afraid? Consider Timothy; a young man who didn't seem aggressive, yet one who died leading a protest against idols when he was old. God has a way of changing people, of helping them do something to change not only themselves, but the whole world. And that change begins with you; ask yourself, Have I prayed today; if not, why not? Remember, prayer and action are the cure and God is the power. Believe it!!!!