Heat Wave - Part 2

Dear Worshipers,

Last week I spoke about the “HEAT” we were experiencing and tried to encourage us to find a corollary in our spiritual lives. What I did not address was the “WAVE”. Being hot is one thing, but sustained, prolonged heat that affects everything around you is another.

I had heard a local meteorologist define what qualifies as a “heat wave”: at least three days with afternoon temperatures over 90 degrees. We had that, no problem. I guess something less would be a heat ripple…like what happens to most when they come home from a retreat. There is a measurable difference, but it is not sustained as long as a wave.

A wave changes things. A wave changes the appearance of the sand on the shore. A wave makes noise. A wave demonstrates visibly there is a much greater, unseen force at work. A wave is generally not an isolated event, but one is a series, thus the three day qualification I suppose.

How about a heat tsunami?!? Could that be like one day that is terribly hot? The results of such an event would be catastrophic, which we saw exampled in Indonesia. The face of that part of the world was changed. I am sure people there still look out at the ocean periodically to check the horizon for another wave. But even still, they will eventually go back to living without an eye to the waters, other than an occasional reminder of that life-changing event.

How long can you stay hot? Can you sustain the heat of a close personal encounter with God? I think of Moses who wore the veil to cover the glow of his face following his meeting with God. Some commentators say he did that because the people could not stand to look at him, others because he did not want them to know the glory was fading. Without going back to the Lord, we have no hope of sustaining the obvious effects of our having been with Him.

Though our faces do not glow, there is a marked difference in our countenance when have been with God, and when we have not. Kind of how that summer tan fades as we progress into the fall. Keep going back to God so that you can continue to have your countenance adjusted, like tanning sessions for your heart. The difference is a glow that emanates from the inside out, as opposed to just a surface appearance.

Let us glow white-hot for the glory of our God, today, tomorrow and forever.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott