I had an opportunity to see Fireproof, a Christian movie about marriage. In the movie the husband was tasked by his father to do a set of activities 40 days before he followed through with divorce. The activities included things he was supposed to do for his wife and scripture readings to accommodate the activities. About half way through 40 days he became very frustrated and wanted to quit…..Sounds familiar? He called his father and angrily told him that his plan was not working and he wasn’t doing it anymore. Then his father encouraged him with two very important things: One, you can’t give what you don’t’ have, and two, where is your heart in this situation?
The son realized that day 1-20 he was just doing it with no faith that it would really work. He did it so he could say , see, I did what you said and it didn’t work. While part of him had a slight inkling that it could, the heart of him believed that it really wouldn’t. This reminded me of Naaman when Elisha told him to dip in the sea 7 times, and he got angry saying “that’s your solution!” Naaman was angry for quite a few different reasons, including the fact that Elisha didn’t even come to the door, but more importantly of all the solutions he could come up with, he asked him to go dip in a dirty river! (2 Kings 5:1-14)
Like the husband in the movie, when Naaman dipped the first few times, he did it grudgingly, and believing that he was a real person he did it with a few choice words and a disgusting attitude. It wasn’t until he pushed passed how he felt and kept dipping that the change occurred. Like Naaman the husband in the movie ended up saving his marriage and being healed. There came a place where they took their eyes off the situation and begin to trust . So much that they didn’t even care if it didn’t work, they found a significant peace in surrendering and believing.
We have to transition to a place of peace in surrendering that we trust God more than our situation. Many of us act out of desperation of a thing, person, or situation rather than in total surrender to God. We make unheard of sacrifices to acquire or maintain something or someone, but won’t make those sacrifices for what really matters. In the movie, the husband was a fireman who saved people all day. He risked his life to rescue a girl, but would not put down his pride to rescue his wife. Naaman was a great soldier who risked his life to save Aram. He was willing to bring great riches for a cure, but would not but down his pride to dip in a river. Think about the sacrifices you are willing to make but when God gives you simple instructions, you rebel. He says fast you cheat, but you will work an entire 12 hour shift without taking lunch????? Where is your heart in the matter? Are you going through this Christian walk because it is socially acceptable to, or is your heart towards really walking after Him and seeing his will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
