Dear Family,
As a former coach I often find athletic terms particularly
relevant when addressing the Christian faith. One of those terms, "going
the distance," is a great reminder to me that the Christian faith requires
discipline, a steadfastness that will not quit when things get tough. What does
"going the distance" mean when translated into spiritual
terms. Robert Strauss defined it as "a little like wrestling a
gorilla. You don't quit wrestling when you are tired but when the gorilla is
tired." The legendary Army football coach Earl Blaick was once
asked why his practices were so hard. He reportedly responded, "because
you don't develop strong teeth by eating mush." It has been said that the
Christian faith is not for sissies, and I agree.
Both of these quotes have something to say to us about doing the
distance, not quitting, finishing strong, staying the course. Abram (Abraham)
was one who learned how to go the distance. There is an interesting verse in
Genesis 11:31. It reads, "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son
of Haran, and his daughter-in-law, Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and
together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they
came to Haran, "they settled there." Note the words, "they
settled there."
Abram's father-in-law was supposed to lead his family into
Canaan, but instead he led them halfway, only to settle in Haran and not
Canaan. Why he stopped and settled there and not in the
future Promise Land is a mystery. Perhaps it was
health reasons, or the climate, or maybe it was just plain fear. In
any event, as soon as Terah died, Abram honored God's call, and we
see him packing up his U-Haul and heading off to Canaan
(Genesis 12:1-3). He settled for a season with Terah, but he had no plans
for retirement in Haran when he knew that God had called his
family to Canaan.
Believer, don't settle! Keep your suitcase packed and be ready to
travel. It is easy to settle into a comfortable routine. The familiar has it's
lure and attraction, but if God is calling you somewhere else, or if He has
something else for you to do, be ready to answer His call. If God is calling
for change in your life, don't ignore his call or His challenge. Be ready for
change and open to new challenges, knowing that sometime challenges take us out
of our comfort zone. God wants us to grow, learn, develop, and
become everything He wants us to be.
He may have placed you in Haran for a temporary season
because He wants to teach you something of value for your future ministry. It
may be a time of waiting, a transitional period where your patience is refined
and developed, and where you acquire those characteristics needed for your next
residence. Abram patiently did God's will for a season in Haran, but he knew
his ultimate destination was Canaan, and once you have been to Canaan, you
never want to travel back to Haran or any place for that matter. For you see in
Canaan, Abram was in the center of God's will.
So, when wrestling your gorilla, whatever it may be, "don't
settle," don't quit to rest and take life easy because if you do
you may find yourself in spiritual danger.
Abram honored God daily to such an extent that he was called
a "friend of God." See Genesis: 14:14-16; 17:23 and 22:1-9 for
further glimpses into the life of a man who never was content to settle
anywhere but in the center of God's will and who would never accept becoming
anything less than God called him to be.
May God help us all to become like Abram, that we too might be
called "a friend of God."
Have a wonderful weekend, and do something great for God.
Yours in ministry,
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