Brothers: I am sitting in my hotel room in Bangkok reading a great book I once read 30 years ago, “Knowing God”, by J. I. Packer. He is asking me a question………is He asking you too??
“Have you been holding back from a risky, costly course to which you know in your heart God has called you? Hold back no longer. Your God is faithful to you, and he is adequate for you. You will never need more than he can supply, and what he supplies, both materially and spiritually, will always be enough for the present. “No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps 84:11 RSV).”
But WHY do we all hold back? Are we looking for the good life somewhere else…somewhere outside of Jesus? Do we flirt with this world too much?
Packer states the obvious from scripture………
“You know what kind of life it is that Christ calls you, as his disciple, to live. His own example and teaching in the Gospels (to look no further in the book of God than that) make it abundantly clear.
You are called to go through this world as a pilgrim, a mere temporary resident, traveling light, and willing, as Christ directs, to do what the rich young ruler refused to do: give up material wealth and the security it provides and live in a way that involves you in poverty and loss of possessions. Having your treasure in heaven, you are not to budget for treasure on earth, nor for a high standard of living—you may well be required to forego both. You are called to follow Christ, carrying your cross.”
So why am I living like this Earth is my home?? Why do I cherish material possessions, even cling to them as if they are my security, my goal and my first love??
Packer gives the answer….
“One reason, it seems, is that in our heart of hearts we are afraid of the consequences of going the whole way into the Christian life. We shrink from accepting burdens of responsibility for others because we fear we should not have strength to bear them. We shrink from accepting a way of life in which we forfeit material security because we are afraid of being left stranded. We shrink from being meek because we are afraid that if we do not stand up for ourselves we shall be trodden down and victimized, and end up among life’s casualties and failures. We shrink from breaking with social conventions in order to serve Christ because we fear that if we did, the established structure of our life would collapse all around us, leaving us without a footing anywhere.”
In essence, we FEAR the COST. The risks are simply too great!! As Packer goes on to say……”we are not persuaded of the adequacy of God to provide…..”
OH GOD….Start the Change in us and especially, me, TODAY!!