Come and Go

The lack of taking commitment seriously in the lives of some is glaring. For the Christian we should not live our lives in a "come and go" fashion but a "come and stay" one. Jesus comes into our hearts to be our King forever. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives to seal us forever. The Father comes to direct our steps forever. The commitment God has for us is firm, steadfast, and will never end. We are to be perfect as He is perfect. However, the preacher comes to a church and goes as soon as a better opportunity presents itself (pay raise usually going with it); a man and woman come together in the bonds of matrimony and go apart from one another because of irreconcilable differences; the member comes to a church to see it grow and goes as soon as he or she does not get his or her way; and the Christian comes into the presence of the Lord on Sunday and goes to live like the world every other day of the week.


Being committed is hard but it is necessary. It begins with a resolve to be "come and stay" people. We will stay no matter how bad things become. It continues with a vision of hope. The longer we live, the more we understand that things change. It might be bad right now, but it will not be bad forever. As Mark Lowery says, "It will pass or you will pass." Finally, it is realized with perseverance. There will be temptation, trials, obstacles, and seemingly valid reasons to throw one's hands up in the air and give up, but one stays committed instead. If we will take these steps we can change the culture of the church and even the world from being "come and go" people to those that are like the Lord above and "come and stay" people, which is how it should be.