Stepping Out

My last blog entry suggests that there is an "all-or-nothing" commitment involved in becoming a Christian, i.e., a devoted follower of Christ who is transformed into a "new creation" by His grace, fully assured of a new (and enduring) life. I sincerely believe that this is true. But that is not to deny there may be many steps to be taken along the journey of faith before one crosses that threshold of genuine commitment. It certainly has been true for me. Every day presents a host of decisions that offer me the choice: will I yield to God's way or my way? Will I risk stepping out in full surrender to His control in my life, or pursue my own agenda?

Mark Buchanan, in his book, Your God is Too Safe, describes a territory at the border between Kenya and Uganda that is a no-man's-land of "domesticated lawlessness" -- a place where ironically the "endurance of inertia" lures a traveler to linger. Although not a safe place, it holds an attraction because it affords the sojourner the illusion of freedom from any intrusive authority.

Metaphorically, this transit in borderland pictures the journey of most of us who identify ourselves as Christians. We have taken the initial steps toward the promise of a transformed, resilient, overcoming life in right relationship with our Maker, but hold back from entering into the threatening and unfamiliar territory of full surrender to His sovereign rule in our everyday affairs. We settle into a comfortable inertia, stuck in a borderland between faith and doubt.

A great example in scripture of a man on such a journey is the life of Peter. In an early encounter with Jesus on Peter's journey of faith, Jesus instructs the veteran fisherman to "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Peter initially protests "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." While beset with (reasonable, logical) doubts based on his own experience, he makes a choice: to follow Jesus' bidding. The result is an overwhelming net-breaking catch of fish. (Luke 5:3-11) This is a dramatic event that God orchestrates for a divine purpose in Peter's life.

Interestingly, Peter's reaction is not one of jump-for-joy elation over his good fortune to have a man in his boat who can, at His will, provide all the prosperity, security and "success" that Peter could wish for. Rather, he recognizes that he is in the presence of One who can control the universe and by that authority, can make demands on his own life. He melts before Jesus with the words, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" He recognizes that, to relate to such a One, he must come to grips with his own sin -- that tenacious tendency to wrest control of his life from any outside authority. (Here is dramatic evidence of God's uncanny ability to use circumstances to reveal hard truths to us. For his part, Peter was willing to face the logical consequences of that truth.)

Jesus does not leave him in his wilted state. Rather, He casts a vision of what life can be like if he will but chose to step out of his familiar/safe surroundings with the words: "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." He promises him a life of purpose that is focused beyond his own agenda and control. It does not promise to be entirely safe (as most of us count safety), but one in which he will never need to fear.

Presented with the choice, Peter leaves the familiar and takes one step at a time out of the boat in pursuit of an agenda that His Master will dictate. His journey is a study in human frailty, exuberance, doubt, courage, failure and triumph -- like that of many Christians. It is a life taken one step at a time. At some point, Peter stepped from the safety of the familiar environment of the boat which he captained, over the gunwale of self-sufficiency, past the tiller of self-direction, disentangling himself from the net of doubts, to pursue after a relationship with One who simply offered to make him a fisher of men -- likely having little clue as to what that meant!

The challenge presented to each of us is how to respond to Christ's invitation to follow Him. The key is to take the step, to leave the deceptive "safety" of living in the borderland of indecision, doubt and half-commitment. Putting one foot in front of the other and dropping those things which ensnare or divert us, we by faith take another step in His direction.

This is the path I am set upon and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate so many of you sharing the trail with me.

Grateful for each step of the journey,
Dr Dan

* Pictured above is a pair of my sadly worn-out athletic shoes and their brand new replacements, purchased on faith that I will get sufficient use of them to make the investment worthwhile!