Stepping Off the Ledge
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.
Hebrews 11:1
The notable former atheist C.S. Lewis rightfully observed, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” We are called to die to ourselves and our desires and live for Christ. We are called to live by faith and not by sight. This is not easy. Selfishness is so natural. Faith is so hard. Stepping off the ledge is hard.
Growing up, I was drawn to movie franchises like Indiana Jones. In particular, I loved the third installment, The Last Crusade. There is a wonderful scene near the end that vividly provides a visual representation of what it takes to make a dramatic step of faith. You can watch the two-minute scene here.
God calls us to live a life of faith. This requires faith steps both big and small. There will also be rare occasions—perhaps fewer than a handful over a lifetime—that have a massive impact on our lives. These defining moments require more and are not for the faint of heart. Daniel standing in the lions’ den. Gideon leading the 300 against a Midianite army. Peter walking on water.
I am NOT claiming our ministry’s current situation to be anything remotely close to these biblical moments. However, in our own context, the faith step we are taking is huge. For 56 years, we had been in Graham, North Carolina—the last 45 of which at the same property. To permanently remove ourselves from these familiar confines was a substantial faith step indeed. But we believe God called us to a new season to expand our outreach. This meant moving to a better-equipped facility in a larger city (Check out more here). And this meant moving there without the resources in hand for an outright purchase ($3.9 million to be exact).
By its nature, Christianity is an outwardly focused endeavor. Churches are meant to send their people out into the world to be the Lord’s witnesses. Our mandate is a global mission that requires His message to reach all ethnic groups, wherever they may be found. Staying close to home and padding our pews is not what the Lord had in mind. We must move forward. We can’t get too comfortable, selfish, or lazy. We are called to run a race, not binge-watch on the couch. This is true for churches, individuals, and Christian ministries like ours.
Christian recording artists like Steven Curtis Chapman and for KING + COUNTRY have songs called “Burn the Ships.” This famous expression comes from an inaccurate retelling of Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés’ conquest of Mexico. As it is retold, he burned his ships so his men had no choice but to propel themselves forward to conquer the new land. In actuality, he sunk some of them and beached others, stripping them of vital sailing components. The motivational point of the story is to push forward and not look back. This is what faith is like.
I want to be commended by the Lord for my faith in Him. What about you? Will you pledge to live by faith daily? This is the only way to prepare yourself with the courage, humility, and endurance needed when a big leap of faith is required. The moment will come, and you will have to decide whether or not you will be stepping off the ledge. I hope you’re ready. I hope I am too.