I have recently been pondering why so many ministries fail to make a lasting impact. People, including myself, are impacted at a retreat, conference or concert. There is a powerful moment with God, but then the person walks away without producing any lasting change. Just as quickly as the moment came, it goes. The person returns to his old lifestyle.
Having just come back from Creation East (a major Christian festival) with the youth group, I am happy to see students taking steps toward God. But I have seen this before and really wonder how many will stay the course. What makes the difference between lasting change and a momentary spiritual high?
It seems to me that the key is to be deliberate about what God shows us in the "moment." A person cannot be double minded and bear lasting fruit. As Duffy Robins said at Creation, "Some of us are trying to get into God's boat while still staying tied to the world's dock." We must choose to let God change us. We must choose to be accountable and let God's Word refine our way of thinking. These are not optional for real transformation.
The follow through tends to be the real problem because it is not easy. Good intentions are not enough when there are active forces including our own sinful nature at work trying to keep us from living as God desires. The Christian life is not lived by accident. We don't become more holy by osmosis. We have to let God change us. It's a month later that we really know if what we experiences has produced lasting change.
