(Written by Dr. Rudi Swanepoel)

A thermometer is an instrument that measures the temperature surrounding it. It gives a reading of the atmospheric conditions. It's language is always influenced by what is going on around it. When it is warm the reading is high. When it is cold, the reading is low. A thermometer is in a constant state of fluctuation. It can be "up" and "down" within hours. A thermometer is a reactionary instrument. It is informational, relaying valuable news to the reader, but lacking the ability to change that news. In a sense a thermometer assumes the temperature surrounding it. It is always influenced by the circumstances around it. A thermometer is self-contained and can read temperatures without any help. 

Does this sound familiar? How many times are we caught up in thermometer life? Yet, God did not indent you to be a mere thermometer. You should never simply be influenced by life's temperature around you. You are no thermometer. You are to be an influencer not an "influence-e"! Do not revert to a reactionary lifestyle. Take the initiative! There is some value in gauging and knowing what the temperature might be around you; what people are thinking and saying. It can be helpful to know the current conditions that influence our society. But the Lord is not in the news reporting business. He makes news! He creates history. And you too can step into His realms. A Believer is never disconnected from the Power source or self-contained! We are highly dependant people. Without Him we can do nothing!

Let's now look at a thermostat. This instrument is an influencer. It is well connected and cannot function alone. It has a power source to activate it and sends electronic messages to a furnace that supplies enough heat to raise the temperature in the room. The thermostat is set to a determined temperature regardless of room environment. It is in partnership with a furnace that can cause real change.

Habakkuk was a prophet who refused to be a thermometer. He said: "Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, though the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation! The Lord is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not stand in terror, but to walk] and make spiritual progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!"

Can you see the partnership? He is connected to God. His main concern is not the turmoil around him. He is aware of failure, lack, destruction and challenge in the atmosphere around him, but because he is a thermostat he knows that he has the power to raise circumstantial temperatures. He can address all the needs because of the function in His life. God's is an all consuming fire. Fire emanates heat and heat raises temperatures!

Paul and Silas was in jail. Fresh from a round of old fashioned torture, their backs were raw, their bodies wrecked in pain. They were chained and locked away simply for following their divine destiny. They did nothing wrong! Thermometers would identify their predicament, measure their pain and sympathize with their lot. Thermometers would respond to the chilling winds of adversity blowing in that cell. But Paul and Silas were not thermometers. They were spiritual thermostats! Instead of being influenced by adverse circumstances, they chose to raise the spiritual climate around them. They started to sing praises to God. Unlike thermometers, they were still connected to the "Furnace"! They had the power behind them to change things. Soon the power of God kicked in and busted them out of jail! (Acts 16:19-40)

So back to my question: "Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?" Regardless of what happened before, what will you be from this time forth? Will you be an influencer or will you simply speak of how bad things are? Get connected. Become dependant on God. Recognize that without Him you can do nothing, but connected to Him you can become a catalyst for real and lasting change both in you and around you! The time has come for Believers to raise the spiritual temperature wherever we go! The Gospel of Jesus is a hot Gospel! It melts the icicles of fear, doubt and hesitation. It burns up the influences of sin. It warms the coldest hearts with the good news of Christ's salvation!

Lord, I repent of living life as a mere thermometer. For simply identifying all that wrong around me and not being able to affect change. Help me to be a thermostat. I want to be connected to You. Come into my life and rewire my thinking. Together we will make a difference! Amen.