A recent Northwest flight carrying 144 passengers from San Diego to Minneapolis overflew the airport by 150 miles. The pilots remained unresponsive to air traffic controllers and airline officials who were desperately trying to make contact. White House officials were closely monitoring the event, and four fighter jets were preparing to intercept the aircraft.
The plane finally turned around after a stewardess got the pilots' attention by pounding on the cockpit door. What went wrong? The seasoned pilots had apparently become so absorbed with a new software program on their laptops that they had lost track of their destination!
The same thing can happen to us in our Christian walk. It's possible to become so passionate about other things that our passion for Jesus is crowded out. Often we don't even notice until someone or something demands that we stop and realize we're way off course.
It happened to the believers in Asia Minor in the first century. Distractions were plentiful: bustling markets, elegant buildings, stylish theaters. And with those came pride and perversity—sprawling brothels, cultic shrines, and innumerable deities. Evil ran rampant.
Then revival came. All the signs of an authentic move of God are found in Acts 19:
In other words, as Paul preached, many encountered Jesus. The church was growing and madly in love with their Savior. The love of Christ was spread throughout the entire region.
But thirty years later, the passion had died down. While still remarkable churches in many ways, they had lost their focus and once again needed revival.
Jesus appeared to the Apostle John with a fresh word for them. They had left their first love (Rev. 2:4). And Jesus said He found Himself locked outside the church that bore His name, knocking on the door (Rev. 3:20)!
Notice that Jesus didn't say they had "lost" their first love. No, they left it. It was a choice, not an accident—or at least the accumulation of hundreds of daily choices to put something else ahead of the Savior.
Contrary to popular opinion, people don't "fall" out of love. In reality, their love cools as other things gradually take priority and focus. Then one day they realize that there's no real connection, no real relationship that feels worth preserving.
So what about you? Have you left your first love for Jesus? Are you making daily choices that are leading you away from intimacy with Him?
This issue of Revive is a knock at the door of our hearts—an invitation to return to passionate love for Jesus. Because when all is said and done, revival is about Christians falling in love with Jesus all over again.
Byron Paulus is the Executive Director of Life Action Ministries. His passion for revival in our nation is evident whether you're reading ministry updates, thoughts on current events, or helpful content on personal revival. We invite you to interact by posting your thoughts and comments.
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