Contributor:
Chad Roberts
By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10
Some years ago, I was traveling through South Africa, wrapping up a two-week mission trip to Malawi. My host took me on a Safari and it was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in life. Africa has many antelope and one of the most fascinating and graceful of all the antelope is a creature called the impala.
I’ll save you the quick Google search (especially to avoid the Chevrolet made Impala’s) and tell you a couple of interesting facts about impalas. Did you know they can run up to a staggering 40 miles per hour? Speed is your friend when the predators of your life are lions, cheetahs, and leopards!
Not only did God give them incredible speed, but they can also jump to a jaw-dropping 30 feet in height. Yet, zookeepers tell us the secret to keeping impala’s within their enclosures, is to that the zoo will build a wall some 4 – 6 ft. high and the impalas will never attempt to jump over them. Isn’t that fascinating? An impala has the ability to jump over 30 feet high yet won’t take the risk of jumping 4 – 6 feet. Why will they not attempt to jump a mere 4 – 6 ft. wall? Because impalas will not jump where they do not know where they will land.
Risks Are Good
When God called Abraham to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldeans, Abraham had to take a leap of faith without knowing the outcome. The author of Hebrews tells us that he, “went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
There will be seasons in your life and my life when God will tell you to step out into the unknown. In those times, will you be ready to follow Jesus, even if it to areas unknown or even unsafe? Often, Christians like to be comfortable and play it safe, but in reality, God has not called us to comfort. He has called us to fulfill His purposes in our life. One of the greatest enemies to believers accomplishing the will of God for their lives is comfort. Amos 6:1 reminds us, “Woe unto those who are at ease in Zion.”
Christ, Our Good Shepherd
When God calls us into the unknown it can be quite intimidating, but the fact is, God is not going to send us someplace He has not already walked. In John 10:11, Jesus calls Himself, “The Good Shepherd.” Do you know what good shepherds do? They go before the sheep! Good shepherds will find new pastures. They will prepare the ground, and they will lead the sheep, “Beside still waters” (Psalm 23:2).
Good Shepherds are not behind their sheep pushing them out into the unknown. Good shepherds are ahead of their sheep saying, “Come, follow me. This path is good for you.”
Our Enemy As A Roaring Lion
Similar to the way an impala has to contend with lion’s, cheetah’s and leopards, so we must contend with the kingdom of darkness. Peter reminds us that our adversary is as a, “Roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Why do you suppose Peter compares Satan to a “roaring” lion? It is interesting that as a lion begins to age, he cannot pounce upon his prey as fast as he once did. So an older lion will lie in wait for a small animal to pass him. Suppose it is a rabbit or a baby impala, (by the way half of all impala’s die in infancy due to predators). The aged lion will then roar with such an intensity that it will strike fear into the heart of its prey causing it to become paralyzed. A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away and can physically vibrate the ground!
The old lion will slowly walk over to the frightened, paralyzed animal and devour it. So Peter describes Satan. He will strike fear into our hearts. He will roar with an intensity that paralyzes us. Many of you have experienced this. When the doctor said, “It’s Cancer” the lion roared. When your spouse filed for divorce, the lion roared. When you were handed a pink slip or a foreclosure statement, the lion roared.
What does a believer do in times that Satan roars? The child of God, who recognizes that we are the Sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3), will run to the Great Shepherd! Our Shepherd will protect us. It is refreshing to read Psalm 23 after thinking of the lion’s roar, for He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5).
Calculated Risk
When God called Abraham to leave his home, he did not have the benefits we have today. He did not have Scripture to help guide him. He did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling him as believers have now. So when Jesus tells us how to take risks, He instructed us to take calculated risks.
Consider His teaching in Luke 14:28, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? When we take risks for the Lord we are to consider our options with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the council of Scriptures.
So if you are someone who is facing a big decision. If you feel God has called you to leap over the wall without really knowing where you will land, do not feel like you are alone in making such a decision! Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to speak to you through His word. How do we communicate with God? Through prayer! But how does God communicate with us? He communicates through His Word!
Peter tells us in his second epistle, “We have a more sure word.” Think about that. Peter actually heard the audible voice of the Almighty on the mount of transfiguration, yet Peter calls Scripture a, “more sure word.” Do you have that kind of confidence in the Bible? Scripture along with the help fo the Holy Spirit will guide you through every step of life.
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