When a once successful community realizes their time in the spotlight is over, they face a choice: either adapt or hold tightly to the past.
The problem is that when a person or community “buckles down” and sticks to what is familiar, that once life-giving opportunity turns into an empty death trap. Consider some places along the Appalachian Trail – what was once the frontier, filled with promise and opportunity, is now little more than dead end towns. The Christian life offers a life-giving opportunity also, but requires Jesus at the center. If not, your walk will be as empty as those old towns.