The very popular saying, "Been there, done that" continues to be said day after day by so many people. It basically proclaims that there is nothing new in what you are saying you did, because I have already done it. Skydived yesterday...."been there, done that." Swam with sharks today, "been there, done that." Kayaked over an 80 foot waterfall, "been there, done that." These are just a few of the examples of things I cannot say "been there, done that." Those are things I watch people do on TV and wonder if they will live or not. My radical "been there, done that" includes bungee jumping with a triple harness, jumping off a 20 rock ledge into the water, canoeing on the Ocoee River, etc. My list is more rambunctious than radical. If you were going to list what you have done for Christ, the list might be different as well. "Told someone I attend church regularly today, "been there, done that." "Refused an alcoholic beverage from a coworker at a staff party "been there, done that." "Didn't cuss for two weeks "been there, done that." That list is also rambunctious, but not very radical. How do we move from rambunctious, to radical in our lives. For thrill seekers, you have to be willing to face the possibility of death in order to do something radical. You have to put it out of your mind that "a shark could come up and bite my leg and serve me up to his fellow sharks for dinner." You have to put it out of your mind, "the percentage of parachutes that don't actually open up like they are supposed to, making me a very dead midget." "You also have to clear your thinking from, "What if I can't turn my kayak back over after being knocked unconscious from an 80 foot drop." The life of a thrill seeker is one of flirting with death on almost a daily basis, cause they are looking for the next thrill, the next buzz. I saw Nick Wallenda, a high wire walker, on Fox News this morning and he was going to walk on a wire, without a net, across a highway in Sarasota, Florida. When asked, why? He said, "It's what my family has always done. It's in our blood!" Wow, he said a mouthful when he said that statement! It's in my blood!
As a believer you probably have those thoughts from time to time, where you think, "I need to be more radical for Christ and share His message wherever I go." Then you start thinking about all the things that could go wrong should you choose that type of life. You begin to think, "What if someone asks me a question about the Bible I can't answer?" "What if my present friend group starts to exclude me and I'm all alone?" "What if my family doesn't understand my stand for Christ?" "What if someone tries to kill me for my faith?" All valid questions, and all very reasonable for Christians to think about. Here's the kicker for each of us who feel a ground swell of radicalism starting to sprout up. Jesus has already paved the way for each of us, because He has "been there, done that."
In Genesis 45: 1-7 the brothers of Joseph, who had sold him into slavery, were standing before the one they had sold, Joseph. Joseph had grown in power to be over all the food distributed during the famine of the day and his brothers had come to get food and left after paying for it. Joseph had planted a chalice in one of their bags to cause them to come back before him again. It was at this time that he tells them, "I am Joseph your brother." They were speechless and couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing. He then tells them in verse 4 and 5, "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives." Woh! That was a shocker for the brothers who had sold him to slavery and the awesome power of redemption and forgiveness resulted in them all being saved." Now that was radical faith and radical forgiveness. They were impacted in a huge way by the way Joseph perceived the overall picture. Which brings something important to mind for each of us. Do we understand the full picture of what God has done through Jesus for us. Jesus was sold out by Peter, and falsely accused and beaten by those in high places. He was unjustly crucified on a cross that was meant for the worst of society. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and silenced to be heard no more. All of that is so amazingly radical! All of that paints a picture that has continued to impact lives since those terrible days for God's Son, yet glorious days for believers. Why? THE THIRD DAY! That is the day that "radical" took on the ultimate form. That is the day that "been there, done that" was said once and for all. That day is the day that living on the edge began. Because of what Christ "did" on the cross and because of what Christ "did" in defeating death, hell, and the grave, we now have a reason to live a "radical" life of faith and victory. For all of us who know Christ, the burning desire in our hearts to live for Him in a radical way are warranted and must be acted upon. You may say, "why" do I have this burning in my heart to give my all to Him. Just like Nick Wallenda said, this morning, "It's in our blood." But with one change, "it's in HIS blood." Believe it or not, mediocre, cringing, weak faith will become a lifestyle of our past when we tap into the awesome, life-changing power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 45:7 Joseph said a statement that resonates in my heart, "God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance." Sound familiar? In John 14: 1-4, Jesus echoes those same words, but He is talking about eternity. God knows there is a famine in our land and He knows that we need His nourishment in our souls to be able to make it through that famine, and He has left a remnant, you and me, to live a radial faith that is beyond compare. Jesus has gone ahead of us in every situation, so our fears should not hold us back, and make us doubt. In fact, or faith should be radical to the point that we go out as never before proclaiming the mercies of God and His great provision of forgiveness for all who come to Him in repentance.
Don't fear living a radical life for Christ. When He says, Been there, done that" it is the ultimate statement. His statement sounds more like this though.....IT IS FINISHED! Live in His victory. Defeat fear with faith. Let rambuntious faith become radical faith. When that happens your last statement to Christ will be "been there, done that." At that point He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Now that is radical!!!
The Pilgrimage continues....
David Warren
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