Let's say you're at the bank, depositing your check. The teller greets you with smile, and asks how your week was. She listens while processing your transaction, occasionally glancing up with a smile and a nod, letting you know she is listening. As she finishes, she asks you if you'd like to take part in a promotion the bank is offering, which is a great interest rate on 15 year bond. All you need, she informs you, is a thousand dollars to open the account.
The promise of return in this story is 150%, a truly appealing offer. But the initial cost is high, and you wonder if you will ever see that money. After all, its for 15 years, and you won't be able to access it until then. You may need to think about this... or not. Depending on your trust in your bank, the integrity of the teller, and the FDIC, it may be an easy choice. Either way, you will need to exercise some faith and step out in trust.
The offer of understanding and salvation God gives us is quite similar. There is an initial cost of trust we spend for the promise of a return. Fortunately, we see the trustworthiness of God's "bank" in many ways. There is nature (a sustained system, with countless examples of God's provision for us and the animal kingdom). There are His witnesses, people who have experienced His glory through miracles and answered prayers. There are concepts and established principles like love, honor, help, hope, sacrifice, faithfulness, patience, service, and many other intangible, yet powerfully positive ingredients of life. "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights, who does not change over time." James 1:17 "...No one is good except God alone." -Jesus (Luke 18:19) "...God is love." 1 John 4:8 "He will never leave us or forsake us." (Deu_31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Kings 8:57; 1 Chron 28:20; Heb 13:5).
So, to receive from God, it is possible to say we must give a "deposit" of faith. Romans 1:17 "For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
"From faith for faith" means we need an amount of faith to lead to greater faith. It's like the faith one would need to jump from the plane, with the parachute strapped tight to their back. Someone says, "I trust in this parachute to open just fine." But if they do not jump, it's because inside they really don't trust it. In order to prove the faith, and in order to experience the awesome thrill of the skydive, one must take the initial jump!
As we say "yes, I believe", and in our hearts we mean to be open to God, then we will begin to experience what we were not able to before. And as I pull the cord and the 'chute opens, I realize "I can trust this." And next time, the jump of faith will be easier, because we've proven God's reliability.
And why do we need to approach the message of the Bible with fear and respect? The skydiving instructor says, "Now make sure you pull your chute at 3000 feet, otherwise you will not slow down to a safe landing speed before you hit." One who does this will land safely. One who thinks this warning is rubbish will suffer broken bones or worse. But isn't that limiting the thrill of the jump? And in life, if we look at God's word as an over-protective instructor, trying to limit our fun and experience, then it's quite possible that we will hit the ground... hard. Because God loves us He gives us guidelines and ways of living that lead to positive outcomes, while enjoying the "ride". The fear of the Lord will cause a man to view the "rules" as a life-giving force, and not a hindrance.
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
No comments:
Post a Comment