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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Risk (05/17/12)
The Path of Great Resistance

A wave of fear overwhelmed my heart and spilled out in my words, “What do you mean - this would be a good move for us? Do you know how risky this could be? Have you even considered the ramifications this would have on our family!?”

My husband of sixteen years was contemplating leaving his secure job that he’d worked at for all of our married life and moving into the safe and stable world of “home building” – NOT!

I had seen the frustration building in him as he faithfully went to work each day and it had been my prayer that God would give him something he could do that would be more fulfilling and less demanding on his time. But THIS! Really, what could be more uncertain than the homebuilding industry?

As we weighed the pros and cons of this decision I was struck with the irony of it all – how risky it was and yet how rewarding it could be.

Isn’t that the way it is with risk - the greater the risk, the greater the reward?

In Matthew 16:24-25 (NLV) Jesus calls his true followers to the Way of Risk, “. . . ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.’”

What would motivate a couple with a nice home, secure income, two cars and “built in” babysitters called Grandma and Grandpa only a couple of miles away to leave everything that is comfortable and move to another country half-way around the world to share the gospel?

What kind of parents would take their kids from the world of soccer games, gymnastics and ballet to the unknown world of dirt floors, naked natives and mud huts?

What would possess a couple who has just finished getting all their children raised and out of the home to adopt an abandoned child and begin the process all over again?

Many would say they are ridiculous, irresponsible, and crazy. Normal people don’t do that!

But followers of Jesus do this all the time. They leave the safe and comfortable and step out on a road of faith, a road less followed.

The writer of Proverbs says this, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (Proverbs 14:12 NLV) On this pathway the risk is minimal, the road is easy, the journey is safe but what is the reward?

The way of Jesus is a pathway of risk. The cross is anything but safe. The journey of a true Christian is marked with challenges and upheavals, joys and sorrows, heartache and pain. Contrary to the American philosophy of our right to happiness, God doesn’t promise his followers an easy road to travel but what He does promise is that He will be with us each step of the way.

When we’re standing on the threshold of Risk it’s easy to wonder if it will be worth it. Often our choices seem to those on the “outside” and even some on the “inside” that we have chosen the ridiculous, the irresponsible, and the crazy way but don’t forget the reward - an eternity in the presence of the ONE who first took up His Cross for us.

What are you waiting for? Make the move, take the step. In the grand scheme of life you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 693 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Noel Mitaxa 
05/25/12
Very strong introduction that moves into some solid reminders about responding to the call. However I'm left up in the air about what happened to you, because you have not returned to what your intro indicates. I'm assuming that you followed the call, but I'd love to know for sure.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/25/12
This is a well-written piece. It is scary to leave our comfort zone. God may not call us all to be missionaries, but he does have great plans for us. Good job!
Sandra Renee Hicks 
05/25/12
Hi -

There's dynamite in this piece.

Thank you for blowing up for JESUS.

There is nothing that compares to the fire power of Almighty GOD.

A blazing we go...
Marina Rojas
05/26/12
This is a real look at RISK for those of us living in a world of plenty. Thank God that you egg us on to leave our comfort zones to gain that which is promised to him who goes without looking back at that which is left behind.

Good piece, very well written.
C D Swanson 
05/26/12
A beautiful reflective piece that truly brings deep thoughts to mind. Good job...God Bless you~
Dolores Stohler 
05/27/12
You wave the banner of encouragement so well. The opposition is out their marching to the tune of that old song "God is dead". Let us overtake them with our shouts of "He is risen!" Great article; so well done.
Edmond Ng
05/28/12
What make sense may sometimes not be what God has planned for us. It takes much faith and courage for us to move away from our comfort zone to follow the path of obedience. You have done well in conveying this truth and message so clearly in your story. Good job on a nicely written and encouraging piece.
Terry Lee
05/29/12
Great application of theme. Like Noel, I would like to know what happened to the MC and her husband....

Leola Ogle
05/30/12
I loved the line "the greater the risk, the greater the reward." Thanks for sharing. Like others, I'm assuming the MC and her husband took the risk. God bless!
Laura Manley
05/30/12
I have a passion for missionaries and your entry seared deep into my soul. These men, women, and more often than not, children, are our arms, our legs, our voices into the remotest of earthly places while we remain here in a safe environment. You have captured your own love of missionaries in this entry and my hat goes off to you. You did an excellent job of conveying to the reader even a small portion of what missionaries sacrifice in the name of Jesus. Thank you for your reminder, and thank you for an entry well-received and appreciated for its subject matter and your ability to write it with such passion as to provoke a response such as mine. God bless you! Excellent writing!
lynn gipson 
05/30/12
I loved the part about the older couple taking the abandoned child. This was a wonderful article and I so wish I had the nerve to do what you say.....God Bless;

Lynn
Lillian Rhoades 
05/31/12
I loved your opening sentence - a really good hook! A little red ink...I was really into the story, but something happened.
Your article traveled down many "paths." One brought me to a dead-end - the story about your family's decision - and second part of the article led me to multiple paths. In my opinion :-), this interrupted the flow of the narrative. The shift from one "path" to another was too abrupt and lacked a smooth transition from the first half of the article to the second. It's okay to transition from the first path to the second,etc, but I would have used the final paragraph to return to my original story. In my opinion, this would have made for a better conclusion and not left the reader wondering.