To whom shall we go? Jump off the cliff? That doesn't make any sense! The secret is hidden in the perspective. Those that had turned and left Jesus were focusing on the teaching and not the teacher. Peter and the disciples get it right. Once you believe that Jesus is God -- to whom else will you go? The world? The devil? Dear Lord, why? If we focus on our circumstances when we approach the faith cliff we may indeed find ourselves jumping. If we focus on whom it is that we serve however, we will turn around and go back to Him. Only He has the words of eternal life. Only He is the Holy One of God. The father of the demon possessed boy had dealt with his problem for so long that he was focusing on it when he offers up his weak "if you can" prayer. Once Jesus brings him back to the reality of who God is however he cries out for help with his unbelief. Here are the words of the Psalmist for us today:
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. -- psalm 46: 1-3 (Message)
When we stand facing the cliff edge of doom we must do so fearlessly. Not the fake bravado of the rich ruler but the humble fearlessness in knowing who we serve. Our courage comes not from the seastorm but from He who made the sea and walks above it! Our courage comes not from the earthquake but He who spoke the entire earth into existence! It does not matter what the circumstance. It does not matter what the situation. All that matters is we serve a God above all of the conditions we can find in this life. We serve a God of the mountaintop and the valley. We serve a God of both the flatlands and the cliff. I do not know where this writing finds you today but know this. God does not expect perfection from you -- only that you seek Him in your imperfection. Leave the cliff behind you and walk with your God today.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- December 5, 2012