Upon my introduction to disc golf, I became enthralled by it. It’s an individual sport with innumerable intricacies. My emotional enthusiasm erupted, and I purchased so many discs, I could have wallpapered a herd of buffalo with them. I entered tournaments without having any idea how to throw a hyzer or anhyzer. The rules? Clueless. But, emotionally, I was hooked.
That reminds me of someone who is introduced to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The truth of his sinfulness bears down upon him, and his heart sinks lower than an earthworm. How can he ever escape hell and enjoy the glory of heaven? Then, as the truth of the omnipotent power of Jesus’ grace and love permeates his heart, he explodes with emotional happiness. Tears flow down his face, and his smile brightens his face so much he looks like the star Sirius in the night sky. He swears allegiance to Jesus forever.
But something happens. Jesus describes this in the ‘4 Soils Parable:’ Picking it up in verse 6: “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.” (Luke 8:6)
His Disciples had no idea what the parable meant, so they asked Jesus to explain, which He does in verse 13: “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, they receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.”
Jesus describes the person who, at first, is more joyful about following Jesus than a 6 year old on Christmas morning. The little girl is ecstatic about her Tickle Me Elmo doll for about three days. Then it’s put on in her closet until her mom ships it off to Goodwill. Likewise, once a ‘rocky soil’ person’s joy subsides, he returns to his old way of life. Jesus is forgotten and put on a shelf.
Here lies the difference: Once I got over my exuberant joy in discovering disc golf, I still wanted disc golf in my life. Despite my failures in playing, perpetual passion replaced temporary emotion.
I watched videos about throwing discs; I spent hours practicing; I read articles about playing; I tried different throws from different angles. I studied the game at every opportunity. My disc golf life grew stronger and stronger.
Likewise, a new Believer must seek to replace his initial joy with perpetual passion. The great question is how would he do that?
First, he would dedicate himself to the greatest commandment: He would love God with all his heart, all his soul, all his strength, and all his mind. (Luke 10:27)
What would be the best sign of a person’s growing love for God? It resembles how I learned disc golf. You read, you listen, you study. Where? God reveals Himself in His Word. You open your Bible and read. You listen to men who are expert teachers of the Bible. You involve yourself in Bible studies with other people who possess your same thirst for knowing Him more. As you know Him more, your passionate love for Him will grow.
Secondly, the person would dedicate himself to the second greatest commandment: He would love other folks even more than he loves himself. (Luke 10:27) As he moved into the lives of other people, his love for them would magnify and ripple outward. His desire to help and serve would blossom. The fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control—would stream from him into the life of others.
His perpetual passion for God and for others would become an unquenchable fire all the days of his life. He would become the tree described in Psalm 1:3: “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
I’ve certainly enjoyed my initial joy for disc golf growing into a perpetual passion. Likewise, for all of us, any of us, how gloriously fortunate it is when our initial joy for His Son grows into perpetual passion. It’s utterly life-changing in every best aspect. Emotion won’t do that for you, but passion will. Emotion wilts, passion grows.