Risk Free?

 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  Luke 8:25....."We may choose safety or Christ, but not both." Chris Tiegreen....."Faith and risk are inseparable." Erwin McManus.

Scripture says that Abraham "went out not knowing where he was going." He was doing so because his God had commanded him to. He didn't ask for a detailed explanation of what to expect, or a list of things God would guarantee to provide. He simply went and believed that this God whom he was obeying would make a way for him. We all like to listen to stories about the faith of Abraham, but few of us want to live out the faith of Abraham in our own stories.

We in the western church are a comfort loving, safety loving people. We don't want to go to the store without asking Him to watch over us on the way, as well as when we return. In truth, we think His primary task with us and our families is to keep us secure. We want not just a safe faith, but a risk free one. That brings me to the question for each of us; is there anything that you would risk all  in your obedience in following Him? Would you put the well being of not only yourself, but of your loved ones in His hands, with no guarantees of anything but His love, His presence, and His promises? 

This is what He demands of us. He makes no promises about not encountering danger, opposition from the enemy, or even times of want along the way. What He does promise is that He will be fully with us, and that He will get us to where He is leading. In Luke 8, a fierce storm had arisen, Jesus was asleep in the boat, and the disciples were sure they would perish. They made the deadly error of thinking He'd abandoned them, that the threat was mightier than their Lord, and most of all, that He had commanded them to get in the boat and go to the other side of the water. They were to trust that with Him, they would get to where He was sending them. So are we, but so often.... we don't. 

We like to watch adventure movies, but we are not anxious to undertake any adventures ourselves. Yet an adventure is exactly what He calls us to when we walk with Him. In the adventure movie, danger and risk are everywhere, and we thrill to watch it all, but in our hearts, we know it's all Hollywood make-believe. There is nothing make-believe about the adventure Christ calls us to. The dangers and risks will be real, but His presence, power, and provision will be more real. We're to trust that He will get us "to the other side" no matter how fierce the various storms and trials we encounter. McManus writes, "We will be called to make courageous decisions even when gripped by fear." We can do so because of a faith that is anchored in His reality. A faith that goes far beyond "traveling mercies," securing a parking space, and His giving us days of "not too much stress and trouble." 

Here's the thing; we are entering days that none of us have seen or experienced before. "Business as usual" faith will not be enough. It never has been enough. Scripture says that "the people who know their God will do exploits." A lost world needs a church and people who do exploits in the power of their God and Savior. That means risk, danger, and living on the edge, but we'll be living on the edge with Him. That's where He's meant for us to be all along. Let's break free of the artificial safety nets we've created and step out into the unknown, storms, dangers, and risks be what they may. Our Savior is with us. He will get us to the other side. He will get us home......and on the way, we will do exploits.

Blessings,
Pastor O