One Hit Wonder? No thanks.

A few weeks ago, I heard my pastor ask a question.

I’ve wanted to write about it ever since as it’s something I like to read, talk, and journal about.

The question was:

 

Do you want to be a “One Hit Wonder” or a person of longevity and endurance in your walk with Jesus?

One Hit Wonder

A One Hit Wonder is like a sparkler. They start strong but die out quickly.

They are often extremely enthusiastic (which is a great thing) but run the risk of saying yes to too many requests and exhausting themselves…and possibly blaming others for it.

A One Hit Wonder seems polished but underneath there’s immaturity and a lack of depth in their relationship with Jesus.

They need to be accepted exactly how they are and don’t have time to be challenged and taught.

A One Hit Wonder is known for success. But only one success…and then they were done.

They may have lots of Biblical knowledge but wouldn’t be able to answer, “Where have you met Him last in the scriptures?”

They often don’t have a mentor – anyone holding them up. Which often means they aren’t discipling anyone – they aren’t holding anyone up.

A One Hit Wonder gets offended. And posts it on Facebook.

When a One Hit Wonder hits a low point in their lives they blame God.

A One Hit wonder doesn’t begin to understand the beauty and treasure of a season of hiddenness in their lives. A season where it seems like you’re hidden and things are put on hold in their lives leaves them feeling like something’s being done to them rather than God doing something in them.

Longevity and Endurance

A person of longevity and endurance values relationship. In fact, relationship is the core of being this type of person and transparency in these relationships make them worth having.

A person of longevity and endurance craves to learn from someone and finds people they look up to and works on making time to be around them.

They are people who say they are wrong when they are wrong and apologize.

They have a mentor, accountability person, someone to chat with, or whatever-you-wanna-call-it. They just simply have people in their lives.

They have roots. Whether these roots are deep and hearty with years of walking with Jesus or whether they are small like the roots of many gardens this time of year because they were freshly planted only weeks ago, they are there.

And these roots are being watered and nourished by being part of the Body — The Church. They are part of a church they call home. “My church” is part of their vocabulary.

A person of longevity and endurance submits to authority.

A person of longevity and endurance serves.

A person of longevity and endurance has an eternal perspective. They think about Heaven. But not just making it there. They think about how they can bring it here.

When they get hurt? They forgive.

They think about what they do today and how it will impact tomorrow.

They value the Word and His promises are embedded in their hearts.

A person of longevity and endurance can get offended as well. But they take great care in how they work it out knowing that each thing that’s said and every thing that’s done can (and most likely will) create a ripple effect. They are careful.

A person of longevity and endurance sees a season of hiddenness coming in their lives and says in their hearts, “This may have hard moments…but I can’t wait. Bring it on.” because they know there, in those secret, hidden moments where it feels like nothing’s happening, their God — in his great goodness– is doing His deep, precious work in them. Work that could not be done in the open. Work that could not be done in busy seasons. But rather seasons where we are – sometimes forced – to be still.

Sam Luce captures the essence this in a single quote:

In an entertainment driven, individualistic, transient culture that is modern America, I beg you pastor, I beg you church member stay where you are let your roots go deep in the imperfect church you attend and through your individual and collective weakness glorify God.

Oh, how I long to be this type of person.

In September of 2012, I ran my first 1/2 marathon. That’s 13.1 miles, folks. I know people run waaay longer distances than that but for me that was a mighty accomplishment! I trained for a few months; running and biking and doing a bit of weight training and core strengthening exercises throughout. Before that day I hadn’t ran 13.1 miles ever before. I heard you don’t run the exact amount, just get close to it. So I ran 10miles twice before and figured if I can run 10, I can certainly run 3 more miles. I remember the weather being great for running that day and I felt really good during it. My friend Jess was ahead of me and I used her as a focal point as long as possible (she’s faster than me ;)). I remember getting to a point where I all of a sudden felt really tired. And sure enough, I was coming onto the mile 11 marker and had started running a distance my body hadn’t ever ran.  

Thinking back to that moment where I thought, “Oh my…where’s the finish line!?” and seeing the mile 11 marker, that’s where all my training had to really kick in. There’s where endurance had to kick in. My body certainly could do it. It’s a measly 3 more miles! And for the whole last mile you can practically hear the music and everyone cheering you on! But it was hard. And so is this life sometimes. The past 11+ years of following Jesus and getting to know Him have been the absolute best most fun and exciting years. But those years also had their fair share of pain, heart break, offense, issues, and a handful of hard times. It’s in these moments where our minds need to be “set on things above” (Colossians 3:2) and endurance kicks in, knowing hard things are going to come…but persevering through them knowing we serve an unshakable God therefore we will not shaken.

I love this topic of endurance and staying the course and not giving up and finishing strong despite all odds. This life was never meant to be a sprint. It’s the every day, day in and day out, that counts.

Forget being a One Hit Wonder.

I’m in it for the long haul.

How ’bout you?