One of my favorite things to see is the excitement of new Christians. To them, everything is a blessing, a gift, and something to smile about and praise God for. Every worship service is attended with anticipation and glee. Every song is sung with gusto. Every prayer is offered with a deep and sincere understanding that God is listening intently. New Christians approach everything like they’re little children again (dare I say, born again?). The world is filled with wonder and their hearts are overflowing with joy.

Unfortunately, this excitement wears off for some. The gleam dims, the smile straightens, and the volume of their song is turned down. It isn’t that they leave Christ and forsake the faith, they just have a much less enthusiastic faith. This, however, should not be the case. Excitement should not be something reserved only for the babes in Christ or naturally excitable personalities, but excitement should truly be a mark of every Christian no matter their age. Francis Schaeffer explains:

When we understand our calling, it is not only true, but beautiful – and it should be exciting. it is hard to understand how an orthodox, evangelical, Bible-believing Christian can fail to be excited. The answers in the realm of the intellect should make us overwhelmingly excited. But more than this, we are returned to a personal relationship with the God who is there. If we are unexcited Christians, we should go back and see what is wrong. (Taken from The God Who is There, p. 190).

This isn’t to say that sorrow, grief, and sadness are inappropriate for the Christian because they are perfectly appropriate in the face of sin and its consequences. However, those who have their grip on the truths of the gospel will be gripped by the truths of the gospel and their excitement will be observable.