Fast Freeze
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesFrom today’s Montana Street bulletin, comes the following article by an unknown author. The author emphasizes our need to never allow our hearts to freeze over with indifference:
Growing up in the northern part of our country, we know the frigid temperatures that turn surging water into rock — hard ice in a surprisingly short time. Seeing this rapid transition of water into ice, reminds me of how quickly our hearts can turn cool towards God.
This happened to the ancient Israelites. After God miraculously rescued them from slavery, they became impatient when Moses climbed Mt. Sinai to meet God and did not return according to their time schedule. The Lord told Moses to hurry back down the mountain because the people had so quickly turned away (Deuteronomy 9:12).
When situations don’t unfold according to our timetable, we might assume that God has lost interest in us. When we no longer feel close to Him, our hearts may grow cold. But God is always with us.
As the Psalmist wrote:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).
Even when God seems distant, He’s not! His presence fills heaven and earth (Psalm 139:8-10). There is never an acceptable reason for allowing our hearts to freeze over with indifference.
The great hymn writer and poet, Isaac Watts once wrote:
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
With thy all-quickening powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.Look how we grovel here below,
Fond of these thrifling toys;
Our souls can neither fly nor go,
To reach eternal joys.In vain we tune our formal songs,
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.Dear Lord, and shall we ever live
At this poor dying rate?
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,
And thine to us so great?Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With thy all-quickening powers;
Come shed abroad a Saviour’s love,
And that shall kindle ours.