Risky Can Be Rewarding

Have you ever taken a risk? Would some consider you a risky individual? When I was about twelve or thirteen, may dad got the great idea that he was going to build a vacation cabin off in the woods of the northern panhandle of Nebraska. To do it on a small budget, he needed wood. An old house in our home-town of Valentine was about to be demolished and all of that wood was made available to him if he would do the dirty work of take it all out. I remember going over and helping dad tear everything up. (I think the other option was to let the local volunteer fire department burn it down for practice.)

One day, I was up on the second floor tearing out boards from over the roof of the porch. I don't know where the idea came from but I thought it would be cool to go out to the front edge and jump to the ground. It was quiting time anyway. So...being the brilliant young man that I was, I thought it was a good idea. I'm sure it wasn't nearly as high as it still seems in my mind today but I courageously went to the edge and performed my feet first aerial display. I landed with both feet on the ground, no broken bones or anything. However, I noticed a sharp pain in my right foot that was eminating from the nail sticking up through it. I mean allllll the way through it from bottom to top. Imagine the effort it takes and the pain you go through to pull your foot up off a long rusty nail. Now if that weren't risky enough, since I was afraid of needles and shots, I decided not to tell the parental units in charge of my life. That was risky.

Of course, that is not the type of risk I am challenging you with. I am talking about the spiritual risk you take when you reach out to Jesus to receive absolutely everything he has for you--the incredible power of the Spirit that awaits you, the boldness, the zeal, the desire for purity in the face of a sex-crazed world, the guts to stand up for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It is risky because it's different, not because it's bad. It is risky because it's dangerous to your will, and your nasty pride. It is dangerous because you are giving up....well....YOU! And all for the sake of pleasing Him.

The Lord said it this way; "You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart (being)." Taking that kind of risk will have some reward. First, you will find Jesus in ever-increasing depth. Second, you'll lose yourself in ever-increasing quantity. Third, someone else will notice. There's the risk. Is it worth it to you? Pastor Jim