Two of the most dangerous words in a believer’s vocabulary are words that don’t seem so dangerous: status quo.
A dictionary definition of status quo would be “the existing state of affairs.” Now that doesn’t seem so harmful. What on earth is so dangerous about the way things are?
“Status quo” for a Christian becomes very perilous because he starts to get used to the way things are. He is, you could say, stuck in a rut. And this rut entails things that the Bible never intended for the Christian life, or for the church. Things like prayerlessness, a lack of time in God’s Word, carelessness over the lost condition of those around you, going to church out of routine or obligation, and an overall lack of Holy Spirit power abound in your life and church if you’re satisfied with the status quo.
God offers a much different option.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD…“ Hosea 10:12
Fallow ground is ground that was once fertile and useful, but it has been abandoned. God says to the believer, “Remember where you began neglecting your walk with me, and go back there!” Turn over that hardened soil, pluck up the weeds, work the ground until it is useable once more. Don’t just read your Bible, beg God to speak to you. Don’t just utter vain repetitions you pass off as prayer, truly fall at the throne of grace and seek God’s face. Get back in touch with the God of your salvation.
Trying to do right things the wrong way is just as frustrating as doing the wrong things. God wants us to get back to an abiding relationship, where we find all our strength, energy, joy, peace, contentment, and will to go on in the person of Christ Jesus. Stop living the Christian life in the flesh, and yield to the Savior, Who craves to live it through you!
Break up your fallow ground, O wandering and weak saint, for it truly is time to seek the LORD.
