Why Stand Ye Gazing?
Michelle Philpots woke up this morning thinking it was 1994. In fact she wakes up every morning in this state. You see, Michelle is literally stuck in the past. This Englishwoman suffers from “anterograde amnesia”, a brain condition resulting from a serious car accident. Her memory is wiped clean of current events, sometimes within minutes of them occurring. Every morning, her husband has to show her their wedding album and explain that they are husband and wife. Michelle has finally learned to cope with her amnesia, leaving herself Post-it notes on the refrigerator and helpful reminders in her cell phone. Still, if she ventures away from home, she has to use her GPS to find her way back. This woman’s condition may sound strange, but in reality, the church world is plagued with the same disorder. So often we become stuck in memories of the past.
In Acts 1, Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives, surrounded by a multitude of followers. His mission was now complete and it was now time to ascend back into Heaven. As a cloud finally obscured Him from view, the people stood gazing into the sky. To some, the future meant nothing because their beloved Master had left them all alone. But then two angels appeared and spoke words that ring true for us today: “Why stand ye gazing?” This mountain where the people stood now represented the past, and Jesus had commanded them to go to Jerusalem and tarry. These people had a choice to remain gazing into the past, or receive the promise of the Holy Ghost. It’s estimated that around 500 people were on that mountain, but only 120 tarried in the upper room.
Why do Christians stand gazing into the past without regard for what God wants to do right now? Change is a very common reason. Good people can become stuck in the past when a change of leadership occurs. In our years of ministry, we have seen pastors deal with church members who complain that “…you don’t do it like the last pastor…” Even a new pastor’s wife is subject to this criticism: “…Our last pastor’s wife could sure do ‘that‘ better than you!” It’s easy to become focused on one good man or woman, and to feel frustrated when this person is taken or moved from us.
How do you think the children of Israel reacted when leadership was transfered from Moses to Joshua? When they were about to cross the Jordan river into Jericho, their new leader commanded the priest to walk down into the Jordan river and then the waters would part (Joshua 3:8). I can imagine the murmuring, “Moses sure didn’t do it that way. The priest didn’t get their feet wet when we crossed the Red Sea. Joshua certainly doesn’t lead us like Moses did…” Aren’t we glad that Joshua didn’t try to become a pretended Moses? He knew that victory would not come by trying to duplicate God’s past miracles, but by obeying what God had spoken to him personally.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 tells us: “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.“
This scripture has never been more relevant than in our last day generation. The end time church seems to be stuck gazing into the past where winds of revival would blow through the congregation. But these memories alone have not increased the church’s hunger for fresh winds of revival! Night after night, we observe people who come through the church doors, and plop down on a pew. If facial expressions were a verbal language, they would be shouting: “This is the last place I want to be right now!”
It reminds me of two ole drunks who were staggering past a church. Stopping by one of the windows, they slowly peered in. “Whhaaat are they doing in there?” one asked the other in a slurred voice. “I’m not sure.” the other drunk replied. “But whatever it is, they sure look like they’re dreading it!”
We have all heard the statement: “My, we had a dry service tonight.” But have we ever asked ourselves the painful question: “Did I contribute anything to the service or did I simply warm a church pew?” Child of God, disregard how worn out you feel. Forget about the ones beside you that won’t testify, that won’t lift their hands to praise the Lord. Good services don’t come through cold souls warming church pews! And good services don’t come by continually comparing your church with the way it used to be. I believe the angel of the Lord is standing in our churches and asking the same question as in Acts 1. “Why stand ye gazing?” Thank God for the memories of yesterday! But thanks be to God for fresh manna that falls on believers who are hungry enough to receive it.
How is it with you Christian? Are you suffering from spiritual amnesia like the woman in the beginning of our devotion? If so, I trust this devotion has given you some “umph” to get beyond the past and start doing more for the Lord. If it’s a change in your life, start using prayer instead of criticism. And if attending church has become a dread, ask yourself the question, am I the one that is dead? Let God help you to quit gazing into the past, and just like the Apostle Paul, you can move beyond the past, and press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus!