When the Lord Passes By

By Alan Stewart

Very rarely has a sitting American president made his way to our city of Chattanooga, Tenn.  However, in the mid-eighties, Ronald Reagan came to speak, honoring the high school graduates of that year.

There was a buzz in the air and the entire city went to extreme efforts to prepare for his arrival. The route he would travel was given a landscape makeover. Windows were washed, and the roads were wiped clear of debris. The airport was put on hold and roads were closed. Helicopters flew overhead and secret service men combed the grounds to ensure his protection.

Men and women left their jobs temporarily and lined the streets hoping for just a glimpse of the president. When the moment arrived, his visit came and went very quickly. Some might have thought all the effort was wasted on such a short visit. But to others, it was well worth it just to know someone special had passed by our way. 

Have you ever wondered what the real secret of revival is?  Charles Finney thought he had revival down to a formula, and others thought revival could be forced by the right prayer, program, or personality. Educated sermons are being preached and choirs sing with passion every week, but something is still missing. Our profession of Christ has been reduced to mere professionalism.  There seems to be no spiritual buzz in the air any longer.

What is the root of our problem? We have lost the conscious awareness of the presence of the Lord! The very essence of revival can be summed up in these words often found in Scripture, “…and the Lord passed by.”