There's Hope For TodaySample

Imagine a wedding where the celebrants made a mutual commitment to love and to cherish for ... five years.

Imagine the groom turning to his radiant bride and pledging to be faithful “90% of the time.” The marriage covenant is a forever covenant, and so is the covenant we make with God. A half-hearted commitment invariably results in broken dreams, broken homes, broken lives, and broken hearts. Amaziah’s tragic reign ended in exile and shame. He started well but could not finish. He did some good, but the dark influence of his father bore bad fruit. Doing the right thing with half a heart only deepens the sense of tragedy when sin has conceived and brought forth death.

The Christian life requires fidelity, a singular affection. The Lord requires of us that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We cannot make life work with a divided heart. Like an adulterous affair, a divided heart leaves all parties wounded and demeaned. Does God have your whole heart today? What other loves draw you away? Is it a job, an addiction, greed, a lust for power, or is it laziness?

Whatever keeps you from a wholehearted devotion robs you of life itself.