Living life on the edge can be a risky business whether it’s with a business or a career or a financial investment. Things can go wrong, mistakes might be made, plans might come unstuck and you end up falling over the edge and it might be a long way down. Perhaps it’s best not to take risks, and perhaps it’s best to avoid anything that might, if it goes wrong, cause you to become unstuck.  So my advice to you today is; be careful, stay at home, put your feet up and watch the telly with a nice cup of tea!

Such a perspective poses a problem for a disciple of Jesus Christ however, for a reading of the Bible teaches us that we are called to live life on the edge. If we are to walk with Jesus in the way He intends us to, life will be a risk, faith demands it! History records that those who followed Jesus risked being opposed, rejected, arrested, imprisoned and even put to death. Many godly people living in New Testament times experienced horrible things as they chose to believe in and follow their Saviour Jesus Christ.

Jesus himself called his followers to a live a life without comfort and ease, in fact it was more often a life of discomfort, disturbance and discouragement. It doesn’t sound like much fun and for many Christians in countries around the world even today it isn’t. The fact is, if you are going to follow hard after God, if you are going to take risks and step out in faith, if you are going to try and make your life count for the kingdom, you will inevitably find yourself on occasion staring over the edge of a cliff. No one knew this more than the great Apostle Paul who often found himself teetering on the cliff edge and about to lose his balance. Consider his experience and attitude toward his risky faith…

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also. 2 Corinthians 6:4-13

Paul seemed quite at home on the cliff’s edge. He seems almost comfortable with the reality that he could be knocked over the edge anytime by making himself so vulnerable to others. Each time he faced difficulty he came closer to the edge. Paul had a secret however, that many without a risk taking faith never get to see or experience; if he did fall it would be into the loving arms of his Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew the secret that only those who by faith live on the edge get to see a waiting Saviour below. No wonder he was such a courageous risk taker for the kingdom.

So maybe it’s not such a smart idea to sit at home and not take risks. Maybe it’s good and godly to step out in faith at the risk of failure and hurt, and seek to be used by God to make a difference in the kingdom! I encourage you to live a life of risky faith – for the experience and rewards might be beyond anything you ever imagined!