Heading Home

Standing on the edge, swimmies snug on the arms.
Ready, set, JUMP!
Caught by Dad.
Paddle to the edge.
Climb the ladder.
Stand on the edge again.
Ready, set, JUMP!

Those were the days when the kids were very young and we took them swimming. They loved to leap from the side of the pool and be caught.

But let’s back up a bit. Did they love jumping in at first? No way! In fact, they were quite apprehensive, even frightened. But with trust in their father, they leaped, recognizing the safety of his open arms, and their fears dissipated.

What about us? Are we ready to take a leap off that spiritual edge into the scary unknown of obeying some command or new action given by the Lord? Or do we believe it to be so difficult that we talk ourselves out of obedience?

Do we permit our past to shove us into the back of the closet of self-preservation? Do we accept the attempts of the Ol’ Fear-monger to paralyze us with fear, immobilizing us in our present?

We always have a choice. To get started in whatever task the Lord calls us to do, we must choose to overcome what holds us back and take that step or leap of faith.

However, the Lord never gives us courage for that first step. He leaves that initial decision up to us. He may nudge us a little, but we have to take that first step of faith, or leap of faith, as the case may be. Just as those down through the ages have done.

Noah stepped out in total faith. Actually, he took a giant leap! Build a what? Because it’s going to do what? What is rain? And what’s a cubit? Did others laugh at him? I’m most certain they did.

Has God led you to do something so outrageous that it appears ridiculous to you? Stepping out may seem laughable to you but it will cost you, and possibly others, dearly if you do not obey.

Did it seem impossible to the Israelites when they were hemmed in on all sides, the enemy’s rattling chariots closing in behind them, the mountain heights looming on either side of them, and the sea’s heaving waves in front of them?

No way out. Beyond the bounds of possibility, right? Has God asked you to do something that seems hopeless to accomplish? He will make a way, you know.

And there’s always Abraham. Obeying the Lord by leaving where he lived and going to an unknown land. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise.” (Heb. 11:8-9a NKJV)

Not even knowing where he was going! But to activate that promise of God, Abraham placed one foot in front of the other. In my quirky mind, I hear the words to the song in the cartoon Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

Has God been nudging you to do something but you’ve hesitated? If you are apprehensive, even frightened to take that first step or leap of faith, trust in your Father, take the plunge, recognize the safety of His open arms, and your fears will dissipate.

To leap or not to leap? Go ahead! Take the leap! See what happens!

The year 2011 is over. Kaput. Though some unwanted stragglers roll over into the new year, last year has its headstone in the above image.

How did the year treat you? Did circumstances wear you down? How’s it going so far this year? Do you still have your spiritual edge or did you lose it?

In the Old Testament, the sons of the prophets grew in numbers and needed a larger place to live, so they decided to move beside the Jordan and begged Elisha to go with them.

When they reached their destination, they cut down trees to build their homes. As one man was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead flew off the handle and disappeared into the murky waters.

The man cried out to Elisha, “Oh, sir...it was borrowed!” (2 Kings 6:5b NIV)

Elisha asked, “Where did it fall?” After the man showed Elisha the place, Elisha cut a stick and tossed it into the water as a divine summons to rise again. Immediately, the axhead popped up!

“Grab it,” Elisha said, and the man recovered the sharp axhead.

Were you growing spiritually, but then, something happened and your passion for the Lord diminished? Has your spiritual edge grown dull? Maybe you lost it in the murky waters of life?

The enemy will tell you that your sharp, spiritual edge can never be reclaimed. He will convince you that your dream is gone, your gift is of no use to anyone, your desire has chilled, or your effectiveness is depleted.

Maybe it’s just that the trials of life have pulled you away from the Lord. Maybe your burning passion to serve the Lord has grown cold.

Don’t let the enemy or the difficulties of life keep you from reclaiming your fervor.

Last year’s borrowed edge may not work this year. However, you can recover that keen edge you once had; God can restore it for you. He still sharpens and strengthens His instruments and restores the passion and confidence.

Matthew Henry wrote, “God’s grace can thus raise the stony iron heart which has sunk into the mud of this world, and raise up affections naturally earthly, to things above.”

If you have found yourself amidst those muddy waters, God will raise you up. Scripture says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6 NIV)

If your edge or passion has dulled, cling to this thought: “He will lift you up, encourage and help you” (James 4:10b TLB), and “make you to be a new, sharp, threshing instrument.” (Isa. 41:15 Amp)

My prayer for you: May the Lord be your first love, may you regain your spiritual edge, and may you be a sharp instrument in the Lord’s hands.