Shattering the Old - by Dean Chicquette

Have you noticed it? Most people think revival is getting back to some physical/emotional location they experienced in the past or heard of that happened in the long distant history of humanity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Revival is not a re-living, but Life itself so living you that what you once enjoyed is swept from view and your heart no longer rebels concerning God's will for you in the here and now.

I knew a man who wrote under many pseudonyms for readers digest. In fact, he wrote at least a third of the articles over a 15-year span - at least he so declared. They were all the same theme. Overwhelming problems, failed efforts, tenacity, a rebirth of purpose, more effort, breakthrough, victory, and 'the end'. Of course, that is the structure of any good story, written or televised. But I knew the lie behind the story. His personal life was a house of moral shambles with no intention of overcoming nor healing. His victim tried to escape. That was when I met her and learned her story. Soon, I met him and learned his story. He recaptured her and overnight she was once again under his control. To my knowledge she never escaped nor did he. His reappearing in her life produced a pseudo revival, but the old was never shattered.

Too often, in church circles, we too are looking to get back to a bondage in which we felt comfortable when what we needed was freedom. Revival is meant to create something new and that means when it appears we won't at first, and maybe never, see it nor like it. Such a revival has covered the earth. What was has been stripped naked and what once was 'how it had to be' is no more. The God we could visit on Sundays has invaded our homes and a life we thought never was possible is even demanded by most governments.

But are we rejoicing? Are we bowing in humility? Are we overcome by the twilight of possibilities? Or are we trying to rebuild what God is out to destroy?

So it is with every human heart. God destroyed our need to trust, much less improve, this flesh-driven life. The new is ever so much better. Now invaded by Love as your life, you are destined to but one purpose, love indiscriminately and equally each soul you know 'or hear of' starting with your own soul. Then with each and every other person, you meet. There are no exceptions. If you can exclude one soul from God then you have already excluded your soul from Him. Love brings you into such a huge destiny we can only call it a revival.

It shatters the old