No Nets

I'm definitely not the definition of finesse. Could you imagine me on a tight rope? If I were told that I had to perform the high wire act, I'd make sure there were layers of nets, an ambulance and paramedics. I'd climb to the platform then stretch out on the rope with my whole body, close my eyes and pull myself with my sweaty hands inch by inch to the other side. I'm not so afraid of heights; I'm just afraid of falling. I don't think I'd get much applause.


What if some of the variables changed? What if the tight rope were only a few inches from the ground. Or what if I could be absolutely certain that no matter what I did, there was no way I could fall? I might test it out, experiment a little more, get creative. I might take the nets away, start raising the rope, stretch it across the city, swing on it, do handstands and somersaults. I'd get crazy. I'd tell you to come on and get crazy too - make a pyramid while juggling torches and balancing on tea cups. We'd wow everyone.


I'm convinced that if we really understood the grace of God, we would stop concentrating so hard on every single sweaty step we take and start living in free, crazy abandon! We'd screw up big time; we'd rejoice big; we'd bring such big glory to God!


We know God is watching; we know the eyes of the world are on us. But we get dainty and careful - in our fear we make ourselves nervous and everyone else too. God doesn't get nervous. He's not afraid of what we might say or do. He's not afraid that we might fall or doubt. I can imagine if he didn't 'know our frame, that we are dust,' watching us would get boring and more than a little tedious. Every time we lift our foot to take another step we hesitate, look around, look at him, bite our nails, then shuffle on hoping it's okay, hoping we haven't fallen or done something wrong. What about that abundant life thing?


These are just a few verses that come to mind. Twist them together to make a tight rope from which you cannot fall. "For while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly." My power or his? "For it is God who works in you both to desire and to do his good pleasure." My work or his? "If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there your hand will lead me and your right hand will lay hold of me." My faithfulness or his? "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Without fault AND with great joy!! Amen!! 


I don't want to imply that we shouldn't take time to examine ourselves - but if we spend all our time examining ourselves, we're not BEING ourselves!! Take the nets away; know the promises of God; trust them; be yourself; get crazy.