Let’s face it -that a vast majority of success in any venture is bound up in the word, “ENTHUSIASM”. It is as powerful as a bomb and as contagious as the red measles. Regardless of the field, whether business, art, science, or politics; yes, even Christianity, ENTHUSIASM COUNTS. Never underestimate its power, for it will influence and move people to greater heights and often is the final key to success or failure. It is as contagious as it is powerful and will rub off on anybody.
    Have you ever heard a baby cry without enthusiasm? Ever see a baby smile without the glow of enthusiasm? Human beings are born with it, but in some, the yeast of life loses its power to reproduce itself. It is the most highly valued trait in the human personality. All other things being equal, enthusiasm tips the scale in one man’s favor. B.C. Forbes has said, “At the base and birth of every great business organization you will find an enthusiast, a man consumed with earnestness of purpose, with confidence in his powers and with faith in the worthwhileness of his endeavor.” Enthusiasm is just another word for the successful entrepreneur.
    Enthusiasm to a salesman is like “pep and ginger” to life – otherwise he is like an unpolished diamond, he lacks sparkle. “Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle” became the motto of the beef organization. Enthusiasm is a quality that makes a man express his belief with that intense sincerity needed to carry conviction.
    The root word for enthusiasm is “God in us”. The early Christians were exhorted that “with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). Without enthusiasm, faith will die. There are too many discouragements in this life for those with a pygmied faith to survive. Some of the early Christians had a great zeal for God, but lacked knowledge (Romans 10:2). Many more disciples have knowledge without zeal or enthusiasm. It was this boldness that was so impressive. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
    This knowledge, this zeal, this enthusiasm and commitment was what “turned the world upside down” in the first century. The prime difference between a salesman and a clerk is the salesman finds the customer; the customer finds the clerk. Indian chief says, “Pot that boil over better than pot that never boils.”
    John writes to the church of the Laodiceans with these sober words. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot . . . so then because thou art lukewarm . . . I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayeth. “I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing”; and knoweth not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayeth be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayeth be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear . . . As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent” (Revelation 3:14-19). This zeal of enthusiasm is needed even when we are wrong.
    The main product of enthusiasm (God in us) is endurance and perseverance. We, as adults often lose the ‘marvel of life’. The true mark of enthusiasm in child or adult is the one that never loses the beauty and wonder of each new day. “This is the day that they Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 18:24).
    A stranger came by the other day and made me an offer that really put me to thinking. He said he was just driving by and saw that beautiful old barn sitting out in the tall grass and wondered if it was for sale. Price was no problem I walked out and just stood and looked at that old barn. Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun could produce the beauty that now filled my eyes. The man was enthusiastic about buying it, almost at any price. He said he wanted to line the walls of the den of his new house with the beautiful old wood from that barn.
    As I looked at it, the thought came to me; we’re a whole lot like that old barn. Only on the inside is where the beauty grows. Sure we turn silver, too, and lean a bit more than we did when were young and full of sap. But the good Lord knows what he is doing. He is ‘putting himself in us’. It’s called the beauty of mature enthusiasm. As the years pass He’s busy using the hard wealth of our lives, and dry spells and stormy seasons, to do a job of filling our souls with the joy and enthusiasm that even death cannot take away.
    They took the old barn down today and hauled it away to beautify the rich man’s house. Paul wrote about this when he said, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”. . . “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. . . I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” ( II Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 1:21;4:13). The beauty and wonder of life that never fails is always found in the heart of enthusiasm (God in us). So get excited, stay excited, be excited – It’s a wonderful life when the joy of life that now is and is yet to come is not forgotten. May you live all the days of your life before you die!