How seeking safety hinders you...

My  friend and I were talking the other day about how we always tend to play it safe. Actually, she was mainly listening and I was doing the talking. There are times that I know in my life I have wanted to take a risk, but refused because of the presumed consequences. Why do we do that? Because the flesh is geared to protect itself.

As humans, we are naturally drawn to what makes us comfortable. No one willingly wants to be uncomfortable, to hurt, or to be squeezed. The flesh will take until it is fat with self preservation and even then it will continue taking. This is why Jesus’ parables, like The Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son, irritated so many. Helping someone else requires getting to their level, no matter how dirty or bloody that level may be. It requires you to leave a place of warmth and embrace the depravity of your neighbor. Mercy requires sacrifice.

Another problem with the safest route is that it speaks of the presence of fear. Sometimes we can be so fearful of taking a leap that we are left paralyzed. We don’t realize that all you have to do is take the first step.

A friend once told me that when she watches the Chronicles of Narnia, she knows she’s Susan.

“I hate that!” she said. “I’m always cautious. I want to be Lucy. I want to be the one who is not scared of seeking adventure.”

Life in the Spirit does not guarantee us safety. If that’s what you’re looking for in the Christian life, I’m about to burst your bubble. Don’t misunderstand me. The Lord is our protector, but He will ask you to leap in faith. Have you perused the stories in the Bible lately? A life that seeks to glorify God will be called to do just that—to glorify God even if it means death. Have you read how the disciples died? The early Christians? There’s nothing safe about being crucified upside down, boiled in oil, or have your flesh ripped by lions.

God asked Abraham to move to foreign lands, asked a stuttering Moses to speak, and Gideon to lead with 300 warriors.  I love the Message translation of 1 John 4:18

“There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life- fear of death, fear of judgment – is not yet fully formed in love.”

Fear is crippling. God asks us to nestle ourselves in his love and therefore, we are able to move by faith. He will ask us to move to the “dangerous” places—whether it be mentally, emotionally, or physically. But if He is with us, friends, who can be against us, and with that I leave you with the words of Mr. Beaver in the Chronicles of Narnia.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."