David Bruce Linn, Pastor-Teacher
26 September, 2004 -- All Rights Reserved

INTRO: American Christianity has labored under the error that faith in Christ grants us earthly security. The promise of faith is heavenly security and the joy of walking with God while we are on the earth. Earthly risks are the normal outcome of walking with God. We can learn from Abraham what God meant faith to be.

I. WE MUST LEAVE THINGS BEHIND IN ORDER TO TAKE THE RISK OF FAITH -- Gen. 12:1-9

Abraham was a prince in Mesopotamia. This was not a case of a man abandoning a misery-laden lifestyle to find something better on earth because of God. He left all sorts of comforts, pleasures, and securities to follow the simple logic of faith: "Go...and I will bless you." Most of us struggle with the process of abandoning good things for the best things, but there is no way around it. Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters."

II. FAITH REQUIRES MANY EARTHLY RISKS -- [12:10-13:13]

A. Risk to our physical health (Gen. 12:10). Eating was one of the blessings of God on mankind, and Abraham's ability to eat was placed at risk by famine in the very land God promised. There was no perpetually-stocked grocery store in Canaan. Do you know how it feels to leave behind something you had under control in order to follow God? Abraham had the food thing under control in Ur and Haran, but not in the promised land!

B. Risk to our family (Gen. 12:11-20). In Ur and Haran Abraham had family security under control. Then he went to the promised land and had to leave it immediately for Egypt where he was in danger of losing his beautiful wife. The history of God's people is that it is safer for our families to go where he sends us.

C. Risk to our possessions (Gen. 13:1-4). Though it is not mentioned separately, the risk to Abraham's possessions was very real because he lived in a land ruled by others. When God calls us to move in faith, he does not say, "Go, and I promise no one will steal your stuff." Prepare to get robbed blind while you focus on him.

D. Risk of conflict with others (Gen. 13:5-7). When you are walking in faith you do not know what will happen next, and Abraham discovered that there was not enough grazing land for his flocks and those of Lot, his relative. Every ministry I know has conflicts between people, issues to be solved, and a God who overrules them!

E. Risk to our choice opportunities (Gen. 13:8-13). Abraham gave up the choice land in order to solve the conflict with Lot. Hey, if God is taking care of you, you don't have to win every conflict! You don't have to fight for every choice opportunity. The security of heavenly riches trumps all earthly opportunities.

III. WALKING WITH GOD IS WORTH THE RISK OF FAITH -- Gen. 13:14-18.

God said to Abraham: "You know that land I promised? Come, let's take a walk and look at it." What did Abraham get by taking the risk of faith? He had righteousness given to him as a gift (Rom. 4:1-4). He became an instrument in the Lord's hand to further the mission of God on the earth. And he just plain got to walk with God! What challenge of faith is Christ dangling before your eyes? Into which great stream of his will has he invited you to jump? I invite you to strip down to your bathing suit, grab the rope swing of God, and let go of the shore! You may lose some earthly things, but the losses will pale before the wonder of what you will gain.