Free to...

Is life everything you expected it would be? One of our daughters used to tell me she wanted to be a ballet-dancing, airplane driving, Army girl. To my "Mom mind" those were just the ramblings of a little girl who didn't know how competitive the professional dance world was, or how many hours it took to learn how to fly a plane, or how dangerous it was to be on the front lines. To her little mind, she was fearless and the possibilities were endless.

Sales people often try to tap into that childlike sense of adventure by posing the question, "What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?" Would you take more risks? Would you feel lighter, more carefree? Would you be more upfront and honest with people? Eliminating the fear of failure is a powerful motivator. After all, children don't play "Divorced and Alone," or "Addicted and Living on the Streets." Childlike ignorance of risk opens up our minds to dream; the assurance those dreams will come true -- perfectly -- opens us up to walk in that, to take action. But we all know risk exists. We all know there are things in this world that can and will harm us. So, I ask you, "What would you attempt if someone else was paying the tab?"

Since I was a little girl, I could not look at the cross or celebrate Easter without thinking of Jesus dying. He died for me. He died for you. He died so that all our sins are forgiven. Paul talks about this in Romans 5:18-21:

"18 So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to [a]all men. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him. 20 But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Our slates are clean! But what for? Not that we might just go around leading the same life we did before we confessed the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Paul continues with regard to that in Romans 6:1-7), but that we might do great things:

"10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]."

Jesus has picked up the tab. Even if I am called to "fail" (by the world's definition) that others might be blessed, or that I might be blessed in a way different from the one I expected -- getting what I need from my Father's hand, instead of what I want.

Risk exists. Trouble exists. John 16:33, not only assures us of its existence, but promises victory:

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]"

Following a risen Christ is not a "hide-your-head-in-the-sand, deny, deny, deny" kind of commitment. We don't deny life is tough. We don't deny things are not as we expected or even, as we'd like. We don't proclaim to understand it all, or always get it right. But following Christ is knowing He picked up the tab long before we ever took our first breath, and the possibilities are endless. What would He have you attempt today?