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Posted on November 5, 2003 ...

Are you familiar with the term shelf life? It began as a reference to our food storage abilities. Different foods have distinct shelf lives. That is, the amount of time a certain food can sit on a shelf before the quality declines and the item is no longer healthy to eat. For milk, the shelf life is a few days in the refrigerator. For canned goods, shelf life could be a matter of months in the pantry.

We have borrowed the term shelf life to describe the length of time it takes for the influence of any item or event to become obsolete. A new song may gain great popularity, but eventually people grow tired of hearing it and it fades into its place in music history. A TV show may get all the ratings, but in time it is canceled and found only in reruns on TV Land. Your favorite team may win the championship. But in time the excitement of that victory diminishes and the hunger to win it all returns.

As I write these words, we are in the heart of our revival services. I rejoice at the good things I have seen and experienced. It is uplifting to hear Lon Shoopman deliver the Word of God in such a challenging way. It is uplifting to hear the songs of praise. It is humbling to see so many people kneeling at the altar. I rejoice at the spiritual and physical preparation that has contributed to these services. But I am also finding myself asking, How long will this spirit last? In essence, I am pondering about the shelf life of revival.

To answer that question, each of us must come to terms with what he or she will do with this spiritual awakening. Inspiration that is not followed up with application will quickly fade (a short shelf life). But inspiration that leads to application in actions, discipleship, and behavior lasts much longer. In fact, the greatest revival experiences are those that change us eternally! So, to maximize your experience this week, apply some changes in your life.

As revival approached, I prayed that God’s Spirit would visit us in a special way. As these services draw to a close, I find myself praying for God to continue to work among us for a long time. I urge you to join me in this prayer.