Dear Apathy,
We underestimated you. You have quietly made your way into the hearts of many, generations at a time. Where some people were focused on extreme feelings and actions, you silently grabbed hold of an entire unsuspecting group. You have produced the lie that “ignorance is bliss,” and the lie that has been fed to many, is now becoming a full course meal. You have become one of our greatest unknown enemies.
I see you in the home. I see how you have slithered your way into the hearts of husbands and fathers; wives and mothers; sons and daughters. Your ability to break down the family unit is horrifying, at best. I see your utter delight as families dissipate–or worse yet, just live comfortably with indifference as the spine of their family body.
A Code of Indifference
When I look upon the world, your wicked stain is evident. People are suffering and children dying…very few even shed a tear, while even fewer notice. Slavery, trafficking, murder, starvation, and illness plague nations; you sit silently by in smugness as masses of people follow your lead. You have programmed the hearts of many to react only when it is themselves that suffer, a code of “not my problems, not my worries” by which they live.
I see your handiwork in many places and in many forms. Perhaps the worst and most dangerous place I see you at work, is in the heart of the believer. A group of people, called by His name, turning a blind eye…no, much worse, turning an indifferent eye. They live and work among lost souls and they are surrounded by loved ones who are damned to eternal separation from all that is good and true, the very hell of being separated from the presence of God Himself. Yet, you have convinced them that apathy is better than risking it all – their friendships and relationships, or possibly even their reputations, are not worth sacrificing.
You have settled yourself into the hearts of many, your complacent disease eating away at the masses. Unnoticed is the fact that people from one end of the earth to the other are dying without hope, without rescue, and without ever knowing the One who came to love them and free them from bondage. Apathy, you are doing your work well. Yes, you are doing your work well.
A Warning
Finally, I feel like it would be best to warn you. You see, your days are limited and your reign is short. There is another group of people, and they are rising up. I see ones who cling to the words of God and not only claim them, but live them out for Kingdom’s sake. You will know them…not just by the words they say, but by what they do, as well.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:10-12
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. – Romans 12:9-13
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8
The Conquering Redeemer
You see, your hold on us, a people group belonging to the fallen human race, is only possible when we do nothing. But there is One who can destroy you in an instant; in fact, He already has. The thing of it is, people are starting to take notice. People are starting to see your destructive ways and they are claiming His victory over you in their lives. How do I know this? Because I am among those who are being set free from your hold and my family is being rescued from your grasp. I am seeing people mobilize and take action. They see the broken, they see the hurt, they see the injustice and they are rising up against it all; they are rising up against you.
In conclusion, I revisit my opening statement. You were an underestimated obstruction to all things mentioned above, but you were never outside the knowledge of God. This was much to your undoing. Where you meant to destroy, He means to redeem and restore. Where you meant to stagnate lives, He means to rejuvenate and breathe life. Where you meant to inspire to do nothing, He empowers to go and do something. You see, in the end, you lose.
So I bid you farewell, dear Apathy…it is time for you to leave.
LOVE THIS, Melissa! Apathy has never been outside of God’s sight. Awake o’ sleeper, it’s time to shine Christ’s love no matter the cost. Why would we ever let our loved ones lose what we claim is our only hope? (But I have been there too.) Comfort in this world is not what we are called to. Instead risking it all, so ALL may know!
Thank you, Kristi! Apathy is such a dangerous thing, praise God for His mercy and grace to deliver us from it!
This is great! I have been so guilty of apathy and recently challenged to live purposefully. I agree apathy must go because we have a calling on our hands! Thank you for sharing this <3
Thank you, Brittney! I love your inspiring words. I, too, find myself thankful for the grace that covers my apathetic ways I am prone to living out. It is a reminder for me to surrender to Jesus daily my heart and my life so He can use it for His kingdom and His glory. – Melissa W.
Wow powerful post! so much truth, visual and emotion here!
Thank you, Mihaela! 🙂
Reminds me of the sermons that my pastor has been preaching on a remnant of God’s people – it is time for them to rise up and make a Godly difference!
It is time to rise up!
Oh, Kay….I agree so very much! I just finished The Insanity of God and am now reading the Insanity of Obedience, both are very good and such a reminder of what the church is called to do. Thank you for your encouragement! – Melissa W.
I’m with Kay on this one…now is the time to let the voice of Jesus be the loudest voice we hear. That the things that break his heart will break ours. That we walk closely with him so we can serve and minster to a hurting world and fellowship with those he puts in our path.
Amen!
Heather – Yes, yes, YES! Sometimes (often) we let other things be louder than Him, even our own voice. It is important to abide in Him and pray for eyes that see others with the grace and love He sees, for hearts that break for what break His, and for His glory to shine from our lives as we reflect His hope. Thank you for the comment! – Melissa W.
I love that you shared Galatians 6:9 — one of my very favorites!!!