Locomotives and Fireworks

Locomotives and Fireworks

The steel deck of the locomotive where I was standing throbbed with power as the engineer asked for more speed. The engines rumbled and then, the whole train shuddered. The car connections clattered as they took the tension, and tons of freight moved forward.  There are not words to adequately describe the sensation of such immense power. One man, simply by activating a switch, moves a mountain, so to speak!  A fireworks display, by contrast, reveals a completely different kind of power.  Shells launched overhead explode sending shockwaves that pound our chest and assault our ears. Our eyes are dazzled by bursts of light; and then, it’s over!

Christians are promised the  ‘power of God’ as they live in the Spirit. The Bible tells us that  "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." (1 Corinthians 4:20, NIV)  To reduce our great faith to an interesting philosophy is to steal the essence of the faith. Jesus is a Teacher, but our transformation from sinner to saint does not come solely by learning ideas.  He broke the grasp of evil by with His death and Resurrection!  My favorite prayer in the Scripture asks the Lord to give Christians that power, so that they will live holy lives. "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:15-23, NIV)

Isn’t that an inspiring passage, packed with promise? So, what does it mean for you and me?  It means that we are not victims, left to whine about our inability to overcome sinful habits,  living in the grip of our selfishness, incapable of becoming new in thought, word, and action.  Yet, many Christians are virtually indistinguishable from those who claim no faith in Christ. Why? Often it is because they have no real understanding of the power of the Spirit.  They have no expectation of hearing His voice, no real desire to submit to His guidance, and no sense of His immediate Presence.  Many claim to want the ‘power of the Spirit.’  However, they’re thinking more about bursts of fireworks than locomotive strength!  Who doesn’t like the dazzling display in the sky, but what of any value is accomplished by all the noise?

If we think that God, the Holy Spirit, only does His work of transforming our lives, of breaking the chains of those enslaved to sinful habits, of making our broken world whole with fireworks of preaching, noisy displays of tongues, or in emotionally charged revival services – we are missing the main point of true spiritual power. He empowers us to live counter-culturally, to serve when our resources are exhausted, to forgive when we want only to hate, to love when no love is returned.  It is a power that surges in response to the load and pulses quietly but persistently through those who forget themselves and learn to live near to the heart of God. The Holy Spirit is not given to entertain us.  His power is not for show.  He equips us to serve!

Jesus was surrounded by crowds who wanted Him to do miracles to impress. The religious leaders asked Him to dazzle them with signs. He refused saying the only sign they would see would be that like Jonah: that is, His death and resurrection  Paul’s critics wanted him to produce some impressive show of strength. He told them "I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power—the power we use in dealing with you." (2 Corinthians 13:3-4, NLT)

There is power in the Spirit!  We cannot begin to do what we are commissioned to do – to ‘go and preach the Gospel, making disciples’ apart from the Spirit.  So let us invite Him to empower us to deal with our sins, to serve without complaint, to remain steadfast in the face of resistance both spiritual and human until the Coming of the Lord.

Here’s the word from the Word.  Lord, challenge us to receive your power for this day. "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, NIV)