There Are No Shortcuts to Hallelujah

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"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:12)

It would seem almost inevitable, I suppose, that our pace of life in a fast-track culture, which provides almost everything instantly, would ultimately bring us to a place where we naturally expected even God to work quickly in our lives -- like, I mean right now.

But to the One for whom a day is as a thousand years, suddenly comes only once in a while.

Yet we run to and fro, here and there, high and low, looking everywhere for that Hallelujah Moment; that Mount of Transfiguration experience, where hopefully a zap from glory makes up for a life of sloth. But this is not how God works. He takes six weeks to make a measly squash; six decades to make a mighty oak. How long do you think He'll spend on you -- seeing how fond of you He truly is?

Others have gone before us, and their lives each demonstrate that God is in no hurry; there are no shortcuts to Hallelujah. It takes time, troubles, tenacity, truth, and togetherness with others who are also on the journey. There are no pat answers to our perplexing questions; no quick step to get us from here to there. It takes time in the Word, in prayer, in Fellowship, in Worship, in Service -- it takes life lived each day in faith and obedience in order to experience the fullness of that for which we hunger and thirst. And, as we press on the upward way, the Lord will see to it that we have what we seek.

Then let us be done with slothfulness -- that dullness of hearing that makes us slow of heart and slack of hand -- and become followers of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises.

Have you ever seen a mime perform? You know, one of those clowns that has a white face and black suit, and never utters a sound as they act out a scene with no props? That's the Greek word used in this passage when he calls us to be "followers." We are to pantomime (mimic) the lives of those who have gone on before us; we are to carry on by faith with our mouths shut, living life with no props, and being a witness for others who will then follow in our steps -- even if it means that we appear to be fools.
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