Photo: © Joe Gough - Fotolia.com
My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways, says Yahweh. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and do not return without watering the earth, and making it bring forth and bud—to give seed to the sower, and food to the hungry, so shall My word go forth from My mouth: it will not return to me void, but will accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing I send it to do (Isa. 55:8-11).
If a person believes God knows the end from the beginning, then why think of it as taking a risk to do what He says? Strangely, some seem to think that way about following God’s will. But how could such a concept have anything to do with biblical faith, which is defined as, “the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Indeed, the words “assurance” and “risk” are at odds with one another. Moreover, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Does that sound risky to you? That sounds like a promise to me!
When you do business transactions you take risks; however, when you choose to enter into a covenant relationship with God, there is no such thing as taking a risk, because God will always deliver on His promises (provided that certain conditions are met). The idea of taking a risk in following God’s will is a man-centered approach to obeying our heavenly Father, and could result in causing a person to depart from the faith if they don’t get what they want.
When you make following God about taking a risk, you are essentially putting your wants in front of your needs. This is dangerous, because you could become so self-absorbed by what you want that you lose sight of what is essential to maintaining a harmonious relationship with God. In other words, you could end up rejecting what you need in order to pursue what you ought to give up! Following God isn’t about getting what we want; it’s about acknowledging His goodness, and knowing that obeying His will is the best thing we could do for ourselves.
Jesus never told anyone to take a risk in following Him; to the contrary, He said, “If any man desires to be with Me, then let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). When you think of following God as taking a risk, that means you haven’t denied yourself. However, if you have truly denied yourself for Christ, then you haven’t lost anything except what you’re better off without. Paul understood this principle well, which is why he said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). But do you understand it? Can you say the same?
© Chris S. Esty