LEARNING TO KEEP THE FAITH
A bronc rider considering the cost of the ride.
CONSIDER THE COST OF THE RIDE
Every time I sling a leg over my horse, I consider the cost. Equine activities are inherently dangerous, no matter how skilled the rider, or how "broke" the horse is. When I was a much younger rider, I never really stopped and considered the possibility of getting hurt, or even the possibility that I could lose my life. Like most young people, I felt invincible, and figured nothing bad could ever happen to me. It doesn't take but a few years of life experience to learn that "stuff happens" even to the best of riders, and with the best of horses. In fact, stuff happens to everyone that's alive and breathing, and dares to live a life of faith. That's why every one of us should consider the cost of our ventures carefully. Then, if we choose to saddle up and ride, so to speak, there will be no shame or regrets if the outcome is not what we wanted or hoped for. There will be no need for second guessing, no need to question God, or doubt His providence. But there will be faith to start over, and begin once again.
Jesus' words:
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish'."
(Luke 14: 28 - 33)
WHEN LIFE'S A RODEO -
COWBOY UP
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
(Hebrews 10: 35)
A TRUE STORY ABOUT THOMAS EDISON - AN INVENTOR WHO KNEW HOW TO COWBOY UP
"There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew!"
(Thomas Edison)
Most people know that Thomas Edison invented the microphone, incandescent light, the storage battery, talking movies, and thousands of other things. He didn't discover these things. He actually invented these things. That meant that he had a creative genius that only God, the ultimate Creator and inventor, could have gifted him with. History records that Edison worked for more than 10 years on just the invention of the storage battery, alone. Such was his faith, his ambition, and his drive. He not only exhausted all of his time on his inventions, but all of his finances, as well.
When Edison was 67 years old, a fire caused by spontaneous combustion broke out in his home. At least eight fire companies converged on the scene, trying to put out the fire and salvage Edison's home, and the many inventions that were inside the house. Alas, everything was destroyed; the home, and all that was in it. So, did Thomas Edison throw up his hands in despair, and give up? Not according to his 24 year old son, Charles, who reported his father's words, while the embers were yet burning.
"Charles, where's your mother? Find her, and
bring her here. She will never see anything like
this as long as she lives!"
The next morning, Edison surveyed the place where his house had stood just the day before. As he sifted through the burned up ashes of his entire life's work, he suddenly declared,
"There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew!"
Just three weeks later, Edison delivered the very first phonograph to the world!
BIG DREAMS AND YOUNG GUNS
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God... for God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self control."
(2 Timothy 1: 6-7)
If you talk to people, you'll find out most folks started out in life with some pretty big dreams. When we're young guns, we believe those dreams are just around the corner, and just waiting to happen. Nothing seems impossible to us when we're young. And then, while we're dreaming big, life happens, instead. We go off to school, we get married, we gain in-laws and out-laws, we have children, we don't have children, we work, we don't work, we pay bills, we owe taxes, we retire, we go back to work again, and on and on it goes! Meanwhile, somewhere deep within us, there remains a spark. Suddenly, we realize the dream is still alive. If only we could lasso the moment, and once again fan into flames the gift of God within us. Then maybe, just maybe, we might be young guns once again.
Friend, I've got good news. We are still young guns! No matter what our chronological age, we are eternal beings, created in the image and likeness of God, who is Himself, eternal. When we look at things through the filter of days, months, and years, then life seems incredibly short, and all the more so as we near the end of our lives here on planet earth. But life does not stop here. God's purposes, and the dreams He has placed in our heart reach beyond this life. All of God's people, His plans, and His purposes are eternal.
Few, if any of us, can really understand eternity. Why? Because we are limited by our finite understanding. Eternity has no measurement, no quantitative limits, no calculable depth, and no end. If you will begin to view yourself as an eternal child of God, with gifts that were given to you for the eternal purpose of God, then you will never feel it is too late to fan the flames of God's gift to you. Now, young guns, start fanning!
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH - SIT DEEP IN THE SADDLE AND RIDE THROUGH IT WITH FAITH
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong."
(1 Corinthians 16: 13)
Faith is the hallmark of God's people.
Along with love and hope, it's what sets us apart from the world as Christians, and as followers of Christ. Although the comparison might seem a bit trite, faith is as identifiable in the life of a true believer, as a brand on a horse's hide. Why? Because faith is God's hand-written signature on the life of believers, and it marks us as His.
The Bible teaches that faith is a gift from God. So, why would God think it important or even necessary to give us such a gift? Could it be that He knew life would throw us some curve balls and challenges along the way?
Despite the error of some whose
"feel good theology"
would have us believe that God's children never have a bad day or encounter a tough ride, most of us have lived long enough to know that's not true. Nor is it what the Word of God says.
Jesus said:
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
(John 16: 33, NLT)
So, what do we do when trouble comes knocking at our door? Do we give up? Do we run? Do we hide? Do we doubt God? Certainly, some do. But not those of us who are branded and marked for life with the signature of God. We belong to Him, therefore, we stand guard, we stand courageous, we stand strong. And most importantly, we keep the faith!
