Great Risk, Great Faith, Great Reward

Storms of life can, and have derailed our best laid plans.  The unexpected phone call, the myriad of disappointments that blind-side our daily routines, misunderstandings, and unfortunate circumstances all seem to fuel the waves of chaos that sweep over our lives at times.

Storms. Life happens to us all, it rains on the Just and the Unjust alike.  Storms can make us hide in defeat, wither when we should be courageous, and unwilling to take the great risks that faith demands.  We can become immobilized by fear and doubt.  

The Children of Israel stood at the banks of the Jordan River; the promises of God within reach, but they recoiled in fear because of the giants!  They perceived the cost too great – the risk too high, to proceed into the promises of God.  Thus that generation paid with  their lives, as they wasted away in the wilderness.

Matthew recounts (Matt 14:24-33), in detail, the time when an unexpected storm nearly swept away the boat filled with the Lord’s disciples.  What had once been great waters for sailing has now turned into a total chaos of wind-blown waves and sinking boats. 

The disciples are paralyzed with fear, when out of nowhere there appears, what they think is a ghost.  The mental and physical condition of the disciple is now deteriorated by the hours of struggle for their very lives.  Physically exhausted, mentally drained and now they see an aberration (ghost) walking on the water.  They are frightened, maybe bordering on going into shock – perhaps thinking that the “death angel” has arrived as a premonition that their death was at hand, (Peter’s impulsive request, “if it be Thou….” seems to indicate this).  

Then, that comforting familiar voice shouts out, “It is I; be not afraid”! 

They are exhausted, frightened, shocked – fearing and struggling for their very lives, but in an instant, that voice inspired hope, faith, and courage!  In that moment of faith, Peter makes his amazing request, “bid me come unto thee on the water.”  Wow!

That surge of faith is rewarded with “COME”!  Scripture eternally records, “Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water”!  Never in the history of the world had anyone ever walked of water – but Peter took the risk and gave it a try – and he became the one and only water-walker!  (Besides Jesus, of course!)

There are no better moments to exercise great faith than in your moments of great need.  Yes – it’s a risk, but without risk there is no reward, get out of the Boat!

Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Tim 1:7 “..God hath not given us the spirit of fear…”, take the risk!  The heart of any miracle is trusting the supernatural power or God.  Walking on water takes us far beyond our natural limits and abilities.  The status quo requires no risk, as the saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.  Faith, however requires you to break out of the norms and the humdrum of daily existence, to pull away from mediocracy and the mundane.  Impulsive faith doesn’t rely on human reasoning, ordinary outcomes, or past experiences, but rather on God’s ability and willingness to honor his Word!  It can be Risky!

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” What this means, then, is if you want something that you’ve never had before, you must be willing to do something that you’ve never done before. 

And that is where RISK comes into the equation.

• • Noah built a boat in the middle of a desert —that was a risk. 
• • Abraham left his home and went out, not knowing where he was going – that was a risk. 
• • Moses forsook the security of Pharaoh’s palace, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God —that was a risk.
• • Daniel prayed to God though the king had decreed death to any who dared do so—that was a risk. 
• • David faced a giant in the open field of battle—that was a risk. 
• • John the Baptist confronted the sins of King Herod—that was a risk. 
• • Paul openly declared to Caesar himself that Jesus Christ is Lord—that was a risk.

And Peter got out of the Boat!

Are you willing to take a risk on Faith?   That risk may be the difference between success or failure.  It comes down to this; some take a rest – while the faithful take a risk!

For those willing to take the risk, let me leave you with this inspirational  poem from James Ephraim McGirt, a celebrated African-American poet (1874-1930) —

The Farther Shore

Success is a light upon the farther shore,
That shines in dazzling splendor to the eye.
The waters leap, the surging billows roar,
And he who seeks the prize must leap and try.
A mighty host stand trembling on the brink;
With anxious eyes they yearn to reach the goal.
I see them leap, and, Ah! I see them sink –
As gazing on dread horror fills my soul.
Yet to despair I can but droop and die;
‘Tis better far to try the lashing deep.
I much prefer beneath the surge to lie
Than death to find me on this bank asleep.

Be of good courage – take the risk!  As the Psalmist said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Pastor