Most of us exist in a bubble. We’re comfortable there. The older we get, the smaller the bubble becomes, in general. We cordon off aspects of our lives that either no longer interest us or pose a threat to our peaceful little existence. By the end of our lives, most of us will be pretty isolated. As my mom likes to say, “Old people become invisible.”
If all we ever do is pursue greater comfort, where will we find ourselves at the end of our lives?
I think about Abraham often…
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
-Romans 4:20-22
Not only did Abraham, at around one hundred years old, have a baby with Sarah, who was about ninety years old (consider how uncomfortable such a proposition would be to you at such an age, whether Abraham’s or Sarah’s), but he also had unerring faith in God’s promise to deliver him unto the “promised land”. In fact, he didn’t just hang around waiting for it, he was instructed by God to go live as a nomad, in tents, trusting that God would ultimately fulfill His promises.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
-Hebrews 11:8-10
Apparently, as Abraham got older, he became less “invisible”. In fact, he had to step way outside of his comfort zone on multiple occasions. I’ve already mentioned two (fathering a child at an advanced age and having to pick up and move away from his family). Arguably, the greatest test of faith for him was regarding the promised seed, Isaac.
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
…
Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
-Genesis 22:1-3; 10-12
Talk about stepping outside of one’s comfort zone!!! The incredible thing is that Abraham had so much faith in the promise of God that he believed that even if he had sacrificed Isaac, God would’ve resurrected him to maintain integrity to His Word. I suppose this is the gist of why I’m writing this blog to you.
What is the epicenter of your comfort zone? If it’s you, then the bubble you live in “comfortably” will certainly shrink over time; however, if it’s God, then that bubble will expand to whatever size God wills it, by grace.
I want this blog to be a source of encouragement for you, so please don’t misinterpret my motivation here. Just because folks like Abraham had “hall of fame” faith (ala Hebrews 11), it doesn’t mean you ought to feel ashamed of how little yours might be, relatively speaking (everyone’s faith starts somewhere, so it’s never fruitful to compare yourselves to others and end up depressed). Please consider God’s promises to you, personally.
If obedience to God’s Word means you have to step outside of those ever-shrinking boundaries that comprise your current “bubble”, then do so with trust in your heart. God will never give you more than you can handle, He promises (1 Corinthians 10:13). He’ll never leave you alone to face your opposition, He promises (Isaiah 41:10). He will take care of you and your needs no matter what, He promises (Philippians 4:19). The list goes on and on, my friend.
Obedience, which often means stepping outside of your comfort zone, is a function of faith. God rewards the faithful with fulfillment of His promises. With this perspective, we rightly understand that, ultimately, the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) promises to comfort us in our faith and obedience. Let us seek Him to that end, casting aside any anxieties that might encourage us to withdraw otherwise; for this is pleasing to Him, the giver of all good things (Luke 11:13; 12:28).
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
-Hebrews 11:6
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins