Wanderlust

Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

After Christmas, we do tend to feel a lot like fat, stall-fed calves, especially in the good ole U.S. of A. All our desires, (or at least most of them,) have been fulfilled. We’ve seen and visited with all the family and friends we can stand. All of our physical needs have been met – for the time being. (Especially once we’ve had the time to take back all the things that didn’t exactly meet with our desire, so we can get EXACTLY what does.)

I don’t know about you or the rest of the world – but that pretty much sums up what I believe to be the majority Christmas experience in America. Stall-fed calves are what we are. Never having to raise a hand to feed ourselves, or even to over-feed ourselves.

How natural it is to take our eyes off of God in times like these, as our flesh is more or less satiated. Satisfied. Filled to the brim. Filled to overflowing.

The main problem with being filled to overflowing with stuff is it leaves no room (in our thoughts and our hearts,) for the Holy Spirit. These are the times when the Holy Spirit is crowded to the side by truckloads of stuff. Trainloads of weariness.

We do really well looking forward to the coming of the Lord. Not so good looking back. What happens to the fervency we had leading up to Christmas?

God says, “Hey, wait – there’s more!” Not only did Jesus come to earth, as had been prophesied in Malachi 3:1-2, but He’s coming back. And just as the followers of Jesus were not certain of the timing of His advent, we cannot be certain of the time of His CERTAIN return. All we do know is it will be soon. All has been fulfilled for Christ to come for His church.

As the Christmas song professed of those awaiting Christ’s advent, they spent a lot of time wondering as they wandered, gazing into the night skies awaiting the One to be born of a virgin. Keep that wanderlust always. It makes the heart prepared for the True King. And it takes a prepared heart to receive Him still.

- Pastor Bill