http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev%203:15-17&version=NIV1984
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055:1&version=NIV1984
Yesterday I came across an incredible story. Last Friday two snowmobilers were out in the back country near the town of Umea, located in northeastern Sweden. They came upon what they thought was a deserted car just off a forest road. But when they uncovered the vehicle they received the shock of their lives. 44-year-old Peter Skyllberg was lying down on a sleeping bag in the back seat. He was in very bad condition and could barely speak, muttering, “snow...eat”. He had practically starved to death. Skyllberg was immediately taken to a local hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.
What is truly amazing about Skyllberg is that he had been trapped inside his vehicle since December 19, 2011. That is 60 days! In all that time Skyllberg subsisted on a few candy bars and drinks. And snow. Now a human being can go 30 days without food if they have water to drink. But to go 60 days is practically unheard of. Medical personnel believe because Skyllberg’s car was buried by snow that it created a kind of ‘igloo’ effect inside his car. They also believe that Skyllberg went into some form of hibernation where his body’s functions slowed drastically. This meant that he could get by without much, if any, food.
Now I would call his discovery and survival a miracle, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, in all the accounts I read of the incident, not one person referred to God’s part in this. In fact, one article said that it was “a stroke of luck” that the two snowmobilers found Skyllberg. Really? Doesn’t anyone remotely think that God may have had something to do with it? Or the fact that Skyllberg lasted for 2 months with almost no food? Sadly, in our world God gets all the blame when things go bad. And none of the credit when good things happen.
Skyllberg’s story caused me to think of a spiritual application. I wonder how many Christians are starving for God? How long has it been since they received nourishment from Him? How many Sundays have they missed church? How long have they went without reading their Bible? Or offering up more than a token prayer? How long have they gone without ministering to someone in need? Unfortunately, the answer in some cases is months. Maybe even years. Without God. Or very little of Him. You ask, ‘Can they truly be Christians?’ That is debatable. One thing is for certain. They aren’t in very good spiritual health. Spiritually-speaking they are starving to death. Funny thing is, they think that they are OK. But in reality they are wasting away. Down to skin and bones. Barely alive.
This is the danger that we all face. One day we are healthy. We have a living, dynamic, vital relationship with God. But at some point in time, our spiritual life takes a turn for the worse. It could be because of sin. Or busyness. Or apathy. Before long, we don’t spend much time with God. We hardly even think of Him. The still, small voice of the Holy Spirit gets drowned out. To the point where we don’t hear Him at all. Instead of love, joy, peace and the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit, our lives are filled with lust, anger, greed, envy, worry, and a host of other sins. Yet we hardly even notice. But God notices. And so do others. The reality is, the same way we can’t stockpile food in our stomachs for the future, neither can we stockpile spiritual nourishment. We need our daily bread daily! Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. Next year.
So a word to the wise. Guard your relationship with God! No, you’re not going to starve to death just because you miss church on a Sunday. Or don’t read your Bible for a day. Or forget to pray. But starvation starts with missing a single meal. And goes from there. The same is true of our relationship with God. It starts to deteriorate very innocently. And goes from there. So, let’s stay close to God. So close that if we do miss a day or two with Him, we don’t feel good. We immediately notice we are weak. And irritable. Out-of-sorts. And we come running back to Him. As James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This is the best way to keep from slowly starving to death.
Lord, I am sad to think of how many times I have experienced spiritual starvation. Long times without reading Your Word. Without any meaningful prayer. Without the awareness of Your Presence. And I didn’t even realize it! I thank you that I have grown since then. That I now realize how much I need You. That I couldn’t possibly exist very long, if at all, without You. Help me to stay close to You. Every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now I would call his discovery and survival a miracle, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, in all the accounts I read of the incident, not one person referred to God’s part in this. In fact, one article said that it was “a stroke of luck” that the two snowmobilers found Skyllberg. Really? Doesn’t anyone remotely think that God may have had something to do with it? Or the fact that Skyllberg lasted for 2 months with almost no food? Sadly, in our world God gets all the blame when things go bad. And none of the credit when good things happen.
Skyllberg’s story caused me to think of a spiritual application. I wonder how many Christians are starving for God? How long has it been since they received nourishment from Him? How many Sundays have they missed church? How long have they went without reading their Bible? Or offering up more than a token prayer? How long have they gone without ministering to someone in need? Unfortunately, the answer in some cases is months. Maybe even years. Without God. Or very little of Him. You ask, ‘Can they truly be Christians?’ That is debatable. One thing is for certain. They aren’t in very good spiritual health. Spiritually-speaking they are starving to death. Funny thing is, they think that they are OK. But in reality they are wasting away. Down to skin and bones. Barely alive.
This is the danger that we all face. One day we are healthy. We have a living, dynamic, vital relationship with God. But at some point in time, our spiritual life takes a turn for the worse. It could be because of sin. Or busyness. Or apathy. Before long, we don’t spend much time with God. We hardly even think of Him. The still, small voice of the Holy Spirit gets drowned out. To the point where we don’t hear Him at all. Instead of love, joy, peace and the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit, our lives are filled with lust, anger, greed, envy, worry, and a host of other sins. Yet we hardly even notice. But God notices. And so do others. The reality is, the same way we can’t stockpile food in our stomachs for the future, neither can we stockpile spiritual nourishment. We need our daily bread daily! Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. Next year.
So a word to the wise. Guard your relationship with God! No, you’re not going to starve to death just because you miss church on a Sunday. Or don’t read your Bible for a day. Or forget to pray. But starvation starts with missing a single meal. And goes from there. The same is true of our relationship with God. It starts to deteriorate very innocently. And goes from there. So, let’s stay close to God. So close that if we do miss a day or two with Him, we don’t feel good. We immediately notice we are weak. And irritable. Out-of-sorts. And we come running back to Him. As James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This is the best way to keep from slowly starving to death.
Lord, I am sad to think of how many times I have experienced spiritual starvation. Long times without reading Your Word. Without any meaningful prayer. Without the awareness of Your Presence. And I didn’t even realize it! I thank you that I have grown since then. That I now realize how much I need You. That I couldn’t possibly exist very long, if at all, without You. Help me to stay close to You. Every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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