A once beautiful house deteriorates due to a lack of routine maintenance. Left unprotected, the house simply cannot withstand the beatings that it takes from rain, wind, sunlight and other forces. Unless something is done, it will fall into a state whereby it cannot be recovered. It needs to be revived!
Is this not like many of us who are static in our faith? A “walk” with Jesus implies constant movement. We too need “maintenance” to keep from deteriorating spiritually. Church attendance, Bible study, participation in Christian small groups, seeking out and helping those in need, prayer, and striving to live like Jesus provide maintenance to our lives.
John says in 2 John 4 (NIV) “It has given me great joy to find some of you walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us”. The action word “walking” implies that we need to continuously move, grow, and strive to be Christ-like. Being revived often ensures that the devil does not eat away at our defenses. As we seek to obey God, we are revived. Psalms 19:7 (NIV) assures us: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving our soul”. By praying the prayer written in Psalms 85:6 “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you”; we set our minds to moving toward Him. Never static, but constantly striving to grow closer to God revives us daily.
I Found Him…in a beautiful, but abandoned and deteriorating house.