Good Wednesday morning! The wind is coming today, or would that be going? I suppose it would be both since the warnings say that it will be doing anything but staying put. We seem to have a winter of wind so far this year, with the exception of one brief moment on Sunday when not a plant could be seen moving in the pasture. Peace on this earth is fleeting. I knew the wind would be coming up, but when? It did and things were back to normal. We know 'normal' as a time of conflict. The air and water moves in circles around the earth; people demand this or that from their governments; governments take or ask this or that from their peoples; the boss demands more and more time from you; the company is making money but doesn't want to share (to keep costs down, of course); and when will the next war start. For all of this we need a backup plan.
What if the job is lost? Better have a backup plan in place. What if the home is lost? Better have a backup plan in place. What if war breaks out? What if a tornado demolishes our town? What if, what if, what if! Better have a backup plan for every conceivable disaster. Then we turn to the Bible. When God says "I will do this...", there is no added bit about a backup plan. When God commits Himself to some action, there is no "...but if I don't show up, or change my mind, be ready to do this other thing instead." Trusting in God does not have a backup plan. An unbeliever asks you, "What is your backup plan?" You respond, "I'm trusting in God. I don't need one!" You also know the unbelieving response to that one, "You're nuts!"
The scoffers of the world will never understand a leap of faith. "We must lean on our own understanding. Religious belief is a comfort, but you better have a backup plan in place." The Bible tells us that we must no longer be conformed to the world. Belief in God is a yes or no; multiple options are not allowed. Trust in God allows for no backup plan. Lot's wife committed a backup plan in direct violation of the Lord's command, and she was turned to salt. Jesus said that he who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not worthy. When we give our lives to Jesus, we don't have a backup plan for getting to Heaven. In fact, we learn that there isn't one available. As we learn more and more to trust in God alone, we will come to forks in the road. Down one side is unbelief. We trust in our own resources, our own understanding, strength, wisdom, and prepare a backup plan. Down the other side of that fork is trust in God. There is no backup plan. There may seem to be no resources of our own. We know that our own strength, wisdom, and understanding is completely inadequate. And we feel a flutter, perhaps a full-on body block, of fear.
A minister said the other night that if you don't feel some fear then it isn't a step of faith. Dr. David Jeremiah, if I recall correctly. I like that statement. We should not give into the fear, but look to God. However, that first reaction will come. A leap of faith will get the heart beating a little faster, the blood moving at double-time through the vessels. There is the potential from our limited view for disaster: physical disaster, financial ruin, or otherwise. The view to the other side of the chasm might be blocked by fog. God wants us to leap, but the eyes say, "Aaaugh!" Trusting in God completely is not easy, but like the man said to Jesus, "I do believe! Help my unbelief!"
God bless you and keep you on this new day!Bucky
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