Spiritual Disconnect

I’d like to share a particularly frustrating experience I had the other day.  After editing and uploading some photos to Walgreen’s site, I pushed the submit order button, but instead of a confirmation from the store, I was told that the operation had failed.  Ugh.  It seems that the internet had chosen that moment to take a break, or so my computer informed me.  My trained eyes went immediately to the lower right hand corner of my old Dell, where the internet connection icon was still on, I clicked it and was told that said connection was Very Good.  Very Good my foot!!  Thinking it was perhaps due to the advanced age of my computer, I tried reconnecting only to come face to face with this horrible, fierce-looking tyrannosaurus creature.  Said prehistoric carnivore gloated as he devoured my hopes and photos. 

 How is it possible to show that you are connected, and still not have the power? Since I now had time to think about this, it got me wondering about other similar disconnect situations. We’ve all heard the phrase, “the lights are on, but no one’s home”.  In essence it relates to a person who, from the outside, looks like they’re fully capable, representing a certain position, or even a belief, but when you knock on their door no, one answers.  I’ll use myself as an example.  Years ago, before I came to a personal decision, and accepted Christ, I thought I was a Christian. After all, didn’t I have the exterior icons to “prove” it?  I had been baptized as a child, went to Sunday school, was confirmed and completed other religious requirements, what more could there be?  For many years I was actually content with that arrangement.  I never seriously considered getting “online” with God, unless it was something urgent like a test, or forgotten homework. And after all, no one ever came knocking on my door.  Myself, and the rest of the world believed that my Christian icon was on, but over the years it became very clear that it wasn’t connecting to the source.  Thankfully, I allowed God to repair the problem, and now, having full access to his power is more awesome than the internet any day!

It is my contention that the church, as a whole, and I’m referring to the people not a denomination, is suffering from spiritual disconnect.  Yeah, sure the icon may be visible in the right hand corner, but the terrible lizard has eaten up the power.  When is the last time you truly fell on your face in prayer, or worshiped Him with complete abandon?  Have you fallen in love with his word, or experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit?  Just because you, and others, think you are connected, doesn’t mean you are, take it from one who knows.  You may display the outward signs, but if there’s no internal connection, there’s no power, no blessing.  If you’ve been frustrated by a weak or broken connection, ask God to hook you up, then let the ultimate web surfing begin! “….Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.”  Colossians 2:18-19.