“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”Esther 4:14 (NIV)
After turning 50 this summer I’ve been thinking that it’s time to start relaxing more. You know, let the young folks do the risky stuff.
Yet, last week (I don’t know what got into me) I jumped off of a cliff at Boone Lake, Tennessee. After climbing up the steep foot path I was so winded, I didn’t want to climb back down. But after peering down at the water from the top, I certainly didn’t want to jump either!
As I stood there, frozen for a moment, I thought to myself, “Gary, you’re too old to be up here. What were you thinking? You could break your neck!”
Meanwhile, from the boat below, another commentary was being offered by my cousin, David. He is six years my elder. He has been “inspiring” me to do things since we were kids.
“Hey, you’re not wimping out are you?” He offered, as he saw me pausing on the precipice.
Well, as a matter of fact, I was. I mean, I’m too old to be pulling stunts like this anymore. I’ve already jumped from enough cliffs. Time for someone else to do the jumping. Right?
Wrong. I jumped. And it was ugly. I looked like a wounded bird flapping its wings as I plunged into the water nearly 40 feet below. But coming up from the chilly depths, I was glad. Glad that I had jumped again (and glad that I didn’t die).
Earlier this week I was talking to a pastor friend of mine named Mike. He asked what my vision was for our church this coming year. He said that he wasn’t sure that his vision was big enough for his church. He said that he wanted to remain on the “cutting edge,” willing to risk everything for God. Mike wants to keep believing God for things that are beyond human effort.
With a smile, Mike said, “I don’t want to get too comfortable. I want to keep taking risks for God.”
This Sunday we’ll be looking at another faith “hero.” Her name is Esther. She came from a very risky background. She was a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin. But she rose to prominence and wealth. In spite of her position of comfort, she risked everything to help rescue her people. She may have thought that she had already risked enough for God. But she didn’t choose to rest. She chose to risk.
Do you ever feel that you’re too old or that you’ve already risked enough? Are you afraid that God is calling you to jump?
So, jump. Faith believes that God will catch you.