"Why does this escalator not work?"

This week my older son and I took the Historic Tour at Mammoth cave. Most of the way, trekking just behind us, was a mother with two girls, one around two and the other around four. These two girls kept a running, animated conversation going with their mother that often amused us. Near the end of the tour is a room of the cave that is around 200 feet tall. To climb out of that chamber, there is a tower of a great number of stairs. The tour group followed the guide up the stairs. Many were growing winded, when about half way up I heard one of those girls behind me ask her mother, "Mommy, why does this escalator not work?" I laughed. The mother gave an interesting answer: "Well, escalators usually quit working when the power goes out. When there is no power, the escalator stops; it quits moving." She paused and then stated, "But this is not an escalator." I laughed again. The tour guide had competition. The rest of the way out of the cave I thought on this daughter-mother dialogue. Some would ask, "Why does the church not work?" "Why does my Christian faith not work?" There are two reasons. First, they may have stopped working because the power has gone out. There is no power. The second reason might be "But, it's not an escalator." It isn't a true church. It isn't a true faith. It isn't a true Christianity. We could not expect those stairs in the cave to move us upward. The stair tower was not an escalator. Many are expecting their Christianity to "work" when they have never fully trusted Christ, surrendered their lives wholly to Him. Others find that church has made no difference in their lives. It hasn't "worked" for them. In some cases it is because that church isn't the Church. It has resorted to social dynamics, entertainment appeal, and a message modified to accommodate our modern culture's consensus. For those winded on the staircase, it would, no doubt, had been of great relief to discover that they were truly on an escalator and that the power would shortly be turned back on. If we are the true church and have a true faith, there may be times of struggle and difficulty, when things don't seem to be working; but, we can pray for, believe in and expect the promised power of the Spirit, the power of the resurrected Christ, will soon be restored. This faith in Christ is an escalator! It will take us from the depth we have descended, out of the darkness of the pit, up into the light and beyond.