Passion for Christ: Do You Have It?

First Visit to Bacolod

It's my first time here in Bacolod and this reminded me of my first cousin, Arturo Tabara, who was assassinated for what he believed in years ago. He left us in Bayugan during the late 60s to pursue a college career here in Bacolod at the Siliman University where he began his involvement in the communist movement. He once was a top ranking leader of the communist movement in the Philippines. Sad to say, he was gunned down by his very own comrades after more than 20 years of being involved in the communist movement.

Burning Passion for Communism

Many decades ago, when the communist movement was very much alive in many parts of the world, I have always been fascinated by their passion for their belief. And I saw that firsthand in my first cousin. During those years, I was amazed at how they can sacrifice so much of their time, their money and all their efforts  to even willingly die for their cause.

Communism was in their blood. They talked about it. They sang about it. They recruited others to join their cause. They hang on to it with so much passion and dedication. They hung on to a hope of a better tomorrow, a better world, a Utopian society. Although I do not agree with their cause, but I really appreciated and respected their fiery passion to it. It really consumed them. It was their whole being. It kept them moving on.

And the reason why it intrigues me is because when I look at some Christians (and some local congregations) today, this fiery passion I found in communists seem to be somewhat deficient or somewhat lacking to some extent. Why are some Christians lacking or even devoid of a burning passion for Christ? Why is it so?

Lost Passion for Christ

One reason I see is because maybe some of these Christians may have been burned out -- they lost steam after a long period of time. They started out with so much passion but the mission and vision became blurred along the way. The "cares of this world" may have overwhelmed them. Or, maybe the invisible enemy may have succeeded in blurring the vision so that these Christians found no reason at all to carry on anymore. Burnout can happen to anyone.

Another reason I see -- and for me this is the main reason -- is that most Christians who lack the passion haven't really fully known yet who God is, or who Jesus Christ is. They haven't really seen what or who is worth dying for.

Two Questions Needing Answers to Have Passion for Christ

There are two questions that need to have clear answers for any individual if he is to have passion for Christ namely:

1. Who is God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ? A Christian should find out and ask, "Who are you Lord?" When the Lord Jesus introduced himself to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:5 ), that began a change in Paul's life. Paul now knew who his Lord was from then on.


2. The second question is: "Who am I Lord in relation to you?" "Why did you create me anyway?" "What's the reason for my existence?" Just like King David he should ask, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:3-4 ).

After that "Damascus experience," Saul became Paul, a new person in Jesus Christ. Christ introduced himself and from then on Paul knew who his Lord was -- Jesus Christ. He also understood who he was in relation to Christ. Paul understood that he as a person -- and all of humanity! -- is loved, included and accepted in God's plan to adopt all of humanity into His family. Many Christians have died sharing this wonderful news -- the good news is worth dying for! That gospel fired up the Apostle Paul to do great things for God -- real passion for Christ!

When answered correctly -- when the Lord opens one's mind to understand it and experience it -- this I believe will fire up any Christian (and/or any local congregation) to be so consumed with a passion for Christ. The answer to these two questions, under the leading and guidance of God's Spirit, will keep a Christian ever passionate to do the Lord's will and share the gospel to everyone until He returns.

By God's grace, in his own good time, he will guide us into all truth (John 16:13 ).