Maybe it is was the tornados that ripped through my home county last week that destroyed more than 1000 homes. Maybe it is the adoption process that my wife and I are going through that is seemingly moving in slow motion. Whatever it is–I know that I am need of a Savior!
I have been guilty of thinking in the past that as long as I am actively seeking Christ in my life that things will go smoothly for me. He will make all of my paths straight and will keep me from all harm. Well, that just isn’t the case for me and it probably isn’t for you either.
The truth is that this life can be unfair, unjust, and the unrighteous win many times. But, as a Christian, I know how things will end. My hope lies in knowing that Jesus has conquered death through His resurrection. He has defeated Satan and will come in glory again. Satan wins many battles on earth today, but I know that Jesus wins the war!!
So should we as Christians just sit huddling in our homes and churches in fear of going out in this fallen world? Absolutely not! We are called to live this life in victory–despite knowing full well that there is pain and heartache involved. We are called to redeem this fallen world to Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it so well, “Do and dare what is right. Not swayed by the whim of the moment. Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of the living.”
Come out into the tempest that is this life. But do so knowing full well that as men and women who claim Christ, we will have a large target painted on our chests! Once we head out to redeem our culture, we will be heading uphill and into the wind both ways! If we are making progress, there won’t be many times where we can sit back and cruise.
Now, don’t get me wrong. We need to make sure we take time to refuel and replenish and have a true Sabbath. But–in my life at least–I know that when I take extended time of taking it easy, I find it more and more difficult to get back in the game. I start to get comfortable being on the sidelines. How do I know when I have taken too much time? I know because I start to make stupid decisions.
My prayer for all of us is that we would be engaged in this world! That we would feel God’s presence with us as we are doing battle in this wild and uncertain time! That we would fight the good fight…and come out into the tempest of the living!
More to come,
Jeremy
Awaken Ministries 
Great message! I guess I needed to hear it 5 times 🙂
Sorry, my computer kept saying the message wasn’t sent–so I just kept sending it! I guess all 5 made it out. Sorry!
Great post, I always thought that if life was going along nice and smooth that was a signal my life and His will were aligned. It seems Christ works more in me during the difficult times when I truly recognize I need a Savior and can’t do this on my own. God bless in the adoption process, He is at work.
Thanks Rich! In studying Bonhoeffer, Wilberforce, and many others is really when I started to realize that resistance comes when I am following Him. “Taking up our cross and following Him” is a much different act than me doing my thing and asking God to bless that. I still catch myself doing that!
I love that quote from Bonhoeffer. Can you point me to which book, chapter, page? it is from?
Yes, it is a powerful quote for sure!! Here is where I found the quote. It came from a Breakpoint article from a John Stonestreet “re-series”. Below is the article from colsoncenter.org:
“Do and dare what is right,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “not swayed by the whim of the moment. Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of living.”
It’s a rough world out there and no one knew this better than this German pastor and political dissident, who helped lead the Confessing Church in standing up to Adolf Hitler during the Second World War. But from Bonhoeffer, for whom almost every well-intentioned effort ended in failure, these words carry a special significance.
As John Stonestreet reminds us in this week’s edition of our “ReSeries” video commentaries, what matters most when Christians confront a culture or government hostile to our worldview and values is not how confident we feel, how much is at stake, whether we stand alone or even whether we have a chance of success. All that matters is obedience, and the willingness to set aside conjecture when the time comes, thrust ourselves into the storm of reality and take the action God has called us to take. In the words of Chuck Colson, we must do the right thing, no matter what it costs us.
“Who stands fast?” asked Bonhoeffer shortly before the end of his life. “Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedience and responsible action in faith and an exclusive allegiance to God. Who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God. Where are these responsible people?”
That’s a question which for Christians in the West, is becoming increasingly urgent.
Thanks so much for the prompt reply. I think it is Letters and Papers From Prison, but still not completely sure. BTW, I listened to John Stonestreet speak (via the audio file) at the Beeson Divinity School seminar on Bonhoeffer and it was excellent. A friend of mine and I are wrapping up the last of a four part Sunday School series and this is a great quote to end on!
Stonestreet is a great teacher. He makes complex issues clear for me.
I prayed for your Sunday School class today. I prayed that the Kingdom would be advanced through you and your friend’s class.
Thank you Jeremy. The class did reach a good cross section for our size church. Of course God only knows the advance of His kingdom, but I do believe we were obedient to His Word in holding the class. People really engaged in good discussion, which really encouraged me that some at least will avoid repeating the past.
If you ever get near the little gold rush town of Grass Valley, CA. please visit us at Calvary Bible Church.
I looked up where Grass Valley is and it looks like it is in a beautiful area! I love California! Maybe I will make it back out that way again!