A Leap Of Faith | AllWorship.com

Are you willing to take a …

leap of faith?

Taking a leap of faith sounds epic, heroic, even thrilling … until it comes down to the moment of the leap. Then, more than anything else, it is scary. Taking a leap of faith means there is no safety net, plan B, or exit strategy. Soar or splat, pass or fail–with no grading on the curve.

It has been said of an entrepreneur that if their idea succeeds, they are considered to be a genius. If it fails, they are summarily dismissed as a crackpot. No in-between. No mercy. No grace in the minds and attitudes of others.

It is the same with spiritual leaps of faith. Those who succeed are acknowledged as courageous pioneers, visionary leaders, or great examples of faith. Those who fail are rejected as sad, misguided cases who should have known better … if they survive at all.

Do you think Joshua could have wondered which he would be as he heard God command him to take the people across the Jordan River (which, incidentally, was at flood stage)? I think those kinds of thoughts could have gone through his mind. I know they would have been going through mine.

I know because we are facing a significant leap of faith decision right now–literally right now. You can believe that these kinds of thoughts are going through our minds. I will be even more transparent: I feel like I am being ripped apart at the molecular level.

And I will tell you something else: My emotions are overwhelmed and my thoughts are commandeered virtually twenty-four-seven. Anyone facing a genuine leap of faith decision who says otherwise is not being honest with you. By virtue of our human nature, it is impossible not to feel such conflict. We can override the conflict with God’s Spirit (Romans 8), but even this does not mean that we will not feel it.

After the death of the Lord’s servant Moses, the Lord said to Moses’ assistant Joshua, son of Nun, “My servant Moses is dead. Now you and all these people must cross the Jordan River into the land that I am going to give the people of Israel. (Jos 1:1-2 GW)

In today’s Scripture passage, God says something we might consider socially inappropriate today. He is very direct, simply saying to Joshua that Moses is dead. He did not say, “Moses has passed.”, or, “Moses is in a better place.”, or, “Joshua, I know you are hurting right now.”, or, “Joshua, how do you feel about that?” No. He says, straight up, right in Joshua’s face: “Moses is dead.”

This really spoke to me as I read this passage. In leap of faith situations, we must consider our past to be as dead as Moses was to Joshua. Whatever we have done or however we have done it in the past must be reckoned as dead. There is no other alternative.

Only when we consider what has been as dead and what God has for us now as life can we move forward into His present and living purpose for our lives. This is brutal. It is scary. And … it is NECESSARY if we are to grow, mature, and become what God has for us to be.

As you move forward in Him, you may have to leave things you have done, been, felt, or thought behind. You may have to leave some relationships, connections, expectations, or dreams behind–even dreams of what you thought you were going to be. If God says it is dead (whatever “it” is to you), it has no more place in the life God has for you now than Moses had in what God had for Joshua.

Very important to understand here: I am NOT implying anyone or anything specific in your life. I do not know your circumstances and therefore cannot, will not, and AM NOT giving you personal advice herein. I am telling you straight up that whatever those things are or will be for you can be discovered only between you and God.

The point and takeaway of today’s message is to ask if you are willing to take a leap of faith if God asks. Search your spirit and mind. Don’t answer to me; answer this question to God because He will be the One asking.

We all encounter this decision point at some time or another, in some way or another, and at some level or another. You must first be open to hear Him ask. Are you?